Chris Woodward

Christopher Michael Woodward (born June 27, 1976) is an American former professional baseball utility player and coach, who is currently the manager of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Texas Rangers. Woodward played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox, from 1999 through 2012. He served as a coach for the Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers, from 2014 through 2018, prior to being hired by the Rangers.

Chris Woodward
Woodward coaching the Dodgers in 2017
Texas Rangers – No. 8
Infielder / Manager
Born: (1976-06-27) June 27, 1976
Covina, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 7, 1999, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 2011, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Batting average.239
Home runs33
Runs batted in191
Managerial record100–122
Winning %.450
Teams
As player
As manager
As coach

Baseball career

Amateur career

Woodward attended Northview High School in Covina, California,[1] and Mt. San Antonio College.[2]

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Woodward in the 54th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut on June 7, 1999, hitting a sacrifice fly in an 8–2 loss to the New York Mets.

From 2002 through 2004, Woodward was the starting shortstop in about half of Toronto's games. On August 7, 2002, he achieved a rare feat by hitting three home runs in one game as a shortstop (the first as a Blue Jay and the 15th overall).[3] After an injury-plagued and difficult offensive season in 2004, the Blue Jays released him.

New York Mets

In 2005, Woodward signed with the New York Mets. Woodward was the epitome of flexibility, playing at seven different positions including the entire infield and performing well off the bench and as a starter and even managed two game-winning hits. In 2006, he struggled with injuries and the Mets chose not to re-sign him.

Atlanta Braves
Woodward batting for the Atlanta Braves in 2007.

On December 20, 2006, Woodward agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves.[4] He went through a huge down season in Atlanta however, hitting an MLB-position player worst .199 with only one homer.

Yankees, Phillies, and Brewers

On February 8, 2008, Woodward signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees then was released on March 26 and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on March 28, 2008, where he was assigned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. On May 2, 2008 Woodward was released. He signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on May 31, 2008, and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. He became a free agent following the season.

Seattle Mariners

Woodward signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners in 2009.[5] On June 19, 2009, Woodward was called up from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers after second baseman José López was placed on the bereavement list.[6] He made his debut for the Mariners that night, in their 4–3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was 2 for 4 in that game with a stolen base and a run scored. On August 4, Woodward was designated for assignment to make way for Adrián Beltré who was activated from the 15-day disabled list the same day.[7]

He hit .299 with 52 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, one home run, 15 RBIs and four stolen bases in 51 games with the Triple-A Rainiers. With the Mariners he hit .239 with one double and five RBIs in 20 games.

Boston Red Sox

On August 7, Woodward was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox only to be designated for assignment eight days later on August 15, due to the acquisition of Álex González. He was later optioned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox and would be called up in September when rosters expanded.

Second stint with the Mariners

Woodward and the Seattle Mariners reached an agreement on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on January 6, 2010.[8]

Second stint with the Blue Jays
Woodward with the 51s in 2011

On March 14, 2011, Woodward signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[9] Woodward was called up by the Blue Jays organization on April 21, 2011.[10] He was outrighted to the minors on April 28. He returned to the team on September 4 for the remainder of the season. For the season, he was hitless and did not reach base in ten at bats.[11][12][13] He was named a 2011 MILB.COM Toronto Organization All Star, after batting 296/.353/.474 with 13 home runs in 422 at bats in AAA for the Las Vegas 51s.[14]

He became a free agent after the season, and re-signed to a minor league contract for 2012 by the Toronto Blue Jays, who invited him to spring training. On April 3, Woodward was assigned to the Las Vegas 51s. With them, in 2012 he batted .285/.338/.392 with 2 home runs, 34 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases in 309 at bats.[11]

Coaching
Woodward with Cody Bellinger for the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers

Mariners

Woodward retired on November 1, 2012 and joined the Seattle Mariners organization as minor league infield coordinator.[15] He became the Mariners' infield coach in 2014,[16] and served as the Mariners first base coach in 2015, but opted not to return for the 2016 season after manager Lloyd McClendon was fired.[17]

Dodgers

On December 17, 2015, he was named the third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[18] He spent the 2016 through 2018 seasons in that position.

Woodward managed New Zealand in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualification tournament in Australia in 2016.[19] Woodward interviewed for the New York Yankees manager position after the 2017 season, which eventually went to Aaron Boone.[20]

Managerial career

Texas Rangers

On November 2, 2018, Woodward agreed to a three-year contract to be the manager of the Texas Rangers beginning with the 2019 season.[21]

Managerial record
As of games played through September 20, 2020. [22]
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GamesWonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
TEX2019 1627884.4813rd in AL West––––
TEX2020 602238.3675th in AL West––––
Total222100122.450

Personal life

Woodward is married to Erin Woodward, with whom he has three children. He met his wife, a native of Aurora, Ontario, while playing with the Toronto Blue Jays.[23] He resides in Chandler, Arizona. In 2004, Woodward was featured in an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation.[24]

References
  1. "Dodgers will reportedly add Woodward to staff".
  2. Plaschke, Bill. "Dodgers' third base coach Chris Woodward is learning on the job". latimes.com.
  3. "August 7, 2002 Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays Play-by-Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. August 7, 2002.
  4. "Woodward agrees to one-year deal". MLB.com. December 20, 2006.
  5. Larry Stone (January 15, 2009). "Mariners will have 17 nonroster players going to spring training". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  6. Larry Stone (June 18, 2009). "Chris Woodward joins team, Jose Lopez on bereavement leave". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  7. Geoff Baker (August 4, 2009). "Chris Woodward designated for assignment, Jack Hannahan stays". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  8. "Mariners sign utility player Chris Woodward to Minor League contract". Major League Baseball. seattle.mariners.mlb.com. January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  9. Brett Cecil: Blue Jays' Andy Pettitte?, Toronto Sun, March 14, 2011.
  10. Jays send Cecil to minors, promote Woodward Archived July 17, 2012, at Archive.today, The National Post, April 21, 2011.
  11. "Chris Woodward Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. Travis Snider, Chris Woodward Demoted By Blue Jays, SB Nation, April 28, 2011.
  13. https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=363970
  14. "Chris Woodward Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  15. "Chris Woodward, Brant Brown join Mariners' farm system". Seattle Mariners. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  16. "Edgar Martinez, Chris Woodward will return to next season's Mariners coaching staff". thenewstribune. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  17. "Mariners add Candaele, Hampton to big-league staff". theolympian. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  18. Weisman, Jon (December 17, 2015). "Dodgers name coaches for 2016". Dodgers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  19. "Former Mariners coach Chris Woodward to manage New Zealand". January 27, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  20. Collier, Jamal (November 18, 2017). "Yanks interview Dodgers 3B coach Woodward". mlb.com. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  21. Sullivan, TR (November 2, 2018). "Woodward to be Rangers' next manager". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  22. https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/woodwch01.shtml
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "Rock & Roll High School"
Preceded by
Ron Roenicke		 Los Angeles Dodgers Third Base Coach
2016–2018		 Succeeded by
Dino Ebel
Preceded by
Jeff Banister		 Texas Rangers Manager
2019–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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