The Texas Rangers today introduced Chris Woodward as the club's new manager at a press conference at Globe Life Park in Arlington. 
 
Woodward, who received a three-year contract plus a club option for the 2022 season, was appointed as the 19th full-time manager in club history on Saturday.  
 
"We are excited to welcome Chris Woodward and his family to the Texas Rangers," said Rangers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels. "Chris brings high energy, outstanding leadership and communication skills, a strong knowledge of the game and its evolving strategies, and great integrity-attributes that we feel are vital for our next manager. We believe these traits will resonate with our players, our staff, and our fans. He has also been a big part of a very successful stretch in Los Angeles. 
 
"We interviewed a number of strong candidates during an extensive interview process for our managerial role and believe we have found the right fit in Chris Woodward. We look forward to working with him and everyone on the baseball staff to develop and grow a culture that will lead to success for many years to come."   
 
The 42-year-old Woodward has spent the last three seasons as third base and infield coach on Dave Roberts' staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that span, the Dodgers have a .589 (287-200) regular season winning percentage while capturing the N.L. West Division title all three seasons and advancing to the World Series in 2017 and 2018. 
 
Prior to joining the Dodgers, Woodward was the first base and infield coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2014-15. He began his coaching career as Seattle's minor league infield coordinator in 2013 and was promoted to the Major League staff late in that season. He started 2014 as Seattle's infield coach before assuming first base coaching duties early in the season. 
 
Woodward managed New Zealand in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualification tournament in Australia in 2016 with a 1-2 record. He was a coach for the New Zealand squad in the 2013 WBC qualification.
 
The former infielder spent all or parts of 12 seasons in the Majors with Toronto (1999-2004; 2011); New York Mets (2005-06); Atlanta (2007); Seattle (2009-10), and Boston (2009), hitting .239 with 33 homers and 191 RBI in 659 games. Making his Major League debut on June 7, 1999, he spent much of the 2002-04 seasons as Toronto's starting shortstop, hitting three home runs on August 7, 2002 vs. Seattle. The right-handed batter hit .276 with 13 homers and 45 RBI with the Blue Jays in 2002 and .261 in a career best 104 games the following season. He split time between the Majors and Minors from 2009-11 and concluded his pro career with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2012.  
 
Woodward's 639 ML games are the most for a Texas manager since Toby Harrah in 1992 and the seventh most all-time: 2292 -- Ted Williams; 2155 -- Harrah; 1465 -- Doug Rader; 1259 -- Eddie Stanky; 1095 -- Don Zimmer; 1021 -- Billy Martin.
 
Woodward, who played every position except pitcher and catcher in his pro career, was selected by Toronto in the 54th round of the 1994 MLB Draft. He starred in baseball at Northview High School in Covina, CA and then played one season at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. Woodward earned a Bachelor's Degree in business management from the University of Phoenix in 2012.
 
Born in Covina, CA, Woodward now lives in Chandler, AZ with his wife Erin and three children, Sophie, Mason, and Grady.