Dodgers name Dave Roberts as new manager

ByTim Rearden and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Monday, November 23, 2015
Dave Roberts speaks to reporters in dugout on June 15, 2015.
Dave Roberts speaks to reporters in dugout on June 15, 2015.
AP-AP

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced on Monday that Dave Roberts has been named the 10th manager in Los Angeles Dodger history and the 28th in franchise history.

Roberts, whose father is African American and mother is Japanese, will become the first minority manager of the Dodgers.

"It's hard for me to put into words what it means to be named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers," said Roberts. "This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime.

Roberts, 43, played 10 seasons in the MLB, including with the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004.

"We're extremely excited to bring Dave Roberts on board as the next manager of the Dodgers," said Dodger President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. "We could not have been more impressed with him through this process. His energy is infectious and he has the rare ability to make a genuine connection with every person he comes across."

He won a World Series with Boston after being traded from the Dodgers to the Red Sox at the trade-deadline in 2004.

Roberts has coached with the San Diego Padres since 2011, most recently as bench coach.

Former manager Don Mattingly and the franchise decided to part ways following the team's early exit from the playoffs in 2015.

Mattingly has since been named the manager of the Miami Marlins.

Roberts is the first manager hired under Friedman, who became the highest-paid baseball front-office executive with the team in October of 2014.