Editor's note: The Red Sox will break camp with 25 players heading north to Boston. We begin a daily look at each position on the club, from the projected starters to their backups, as well as every member of the coaching staff. Our latest installment examines bench coach DeMarlo Hale.
The next in line: Red Sox manager Terry Francona is fond of ribbing former bench coach and current Houston Astros manager Brad Mills whenever that name is brought up in conversation. It’s all in good fun, one former Arizona Wildcat giving it to another.
DeMarlo Hale, Mills’ successor who is going into his second year in the role, is increasingly becoming the target of such needling, as sure a sign as any that Hale has settled in just fine. More than anything, it is a measure of respect.
Hale, 49, has had plenty of time in which to get settled. His connection with the Red Sox goes back nearly 30 years. He was drafted by Boston in the 17th round of the 1983 draft and spent four years as a player in the system, including a 1984 campaign that saw him earn All-Star honors in the Carolina League.
One of the true veteran members of the organization, Hale started his coaching career with the Red Sox in 1992 at Double-A New Britain and his managerial career the following season for the Sox’ Single-A affiliate in Fort Lauderdale, where Lou Merloni was among those on the roster.
In the next two years he would be honored with the Edward F. Kenney Player Development Award, an acknowledgment from the baseball operations department, and win Manager of the Year at Michigan in the Midwest League (he would also win another in 1999 at Double-A Trenton). Clearly, Hale was a rising star in the organization and when Boston had a chance to get him back after four years with the Texas Rangers early last decade, it pounced.
That same reaction may come any year now with another organization. Hale was on the short list of candidates for managerial posts with the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason and will be highly sought after going forward. When Mills left to join Houston, Francona was pleased, knowing his friend was getting a great opportunity. The same tune was sung when former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell left for Toronto, edging out Hale for that job.
It may just be a matter of time before Hale, a true baseball man who has methodically climbed the ladders and who has remarkable respect in the Boston clubhouse, heads off to manage one of his own. When he does, he’ll surely send some jabs back at Francona.
