clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Diamondbacks name Steve Sax first base coach, Turner Ward assistant hitting coach

The former Dodger joins the team in a bit of treachery.

Steve Sax throws out the first pitch at Chavez Ravine
Steve Sax throws out the first pitch at Chavez Ravine
Christian Petersen

To be fair to Steve Sax, there were no Diamondbacks when he spent nine seasons and won two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he joins Arizona as first base coach, his first job for an MLB team after his 13-year career ended in 1994. Turner Ward has also been named assistant hitting coach, having spent the past two seasons managing the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, the Mobile BayBears.

Sax, 52, had a fine career at second base, falling just short of 2,000 hits and playing in five All-Star Games. He won titles in Los Angeles in 1982 (his rookie year) and 1988. He left the Dodgers following the '88 season and went on to play for the Yankees, White Sox and A's. Since retiring from baseball, the California native has been involved in fitness education, public speaking and even politics.

Ward, 47, spent 11 seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, and also won two titles, having played for the '92 and '93 Toronto Blue Jays. He also spent two seasons with the Diamondbacks in '99-'00 as a role player, even swatting a home run in the 1999 NLDS against New York.

Sax and Ward join a star-studded coaching staff that includes manager Kirk Gibson, hitting coach Don Baylor, pitching coach Charles Nagy, bench coach Alan Trammel and third base coach Matt Williams.