Apodaca named special assistant to general manager Dan O'Dowd
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that pitching coach Bob Apodaca asked to be reassigned within the organization. Rockies Executive Vice President, Chief Baseball Officer/General Manager Dan O’Dowd has named Apodaca Special Assistant to the General Manager. Apodaca will be responsible for special pitching assignments as directed by O’Dowd.
The Rockies have named Major League bullpen coach Jim Wright and current Triple-A Colorado Springs pitching coach Bo McLaughlin as co-Major League pitching coaches. Wright will continue to focus on the relief pitchers, while McLaughlin’s focus will be on the starting pitchers.
Apodaca, 63, has spent the last 10 seasons, since 2003, as Colorado’s pitching coach. He had been the most tenured coach on the Rockies Major League staff. Under Apodaca, the Rockies pitching staffs produced the six best single season ERA marks in franchise history over the last six seasons, from 2006-11. Prior to joining Colorado’s staff, Apodaca served as the pitching coach for the Milwaukee Brewers (2000-01) and New York Mets (1996-99). Apodaca pitched in parts of five Major League seasons for the New York Mets from 1973-77, and owned a 16-25 record with 26 saves and a 2.86 ERA (362.0 ip, 115 er) in 184 games/11 starts.
Wright, 57, has been Colorado’s bullpen coach since 2009, and a member of the Rockies organization for the past 16 seasons. Prior to being named the club’s bullpen coach, Wright spent six seasons (2003-08) as Colorado’s roving pitching coordinator. Wright was previously a member of the Rockies Major League staff when he served as the club’s pitching coach in 2002. Wright pitched in parts of two Major League seasons for the Kansas City Royals in 1981-82, and went 2-3 with a 4.04 ERA (75.2 ip, 34 er) in 24 games/4 starts.
McLaughlin, 58, was in his first season as the pitching coach at Triple-A Colorado Springs. 2012 is McLaughlin’s 10th season in the Rockies organization. Prior to being named the pitching coach at Triple-A, McLaughlin was the Rockies roving pitching coordinator from 2009-11. McLaughlin was previously the Double-A Tulsa Drillers pitching coach from 2003-08 as well. McLaughlin has been a professional pitching coach under four Major League organizations for 19 seasons, including: the Chicago Cubs (1993-94), Montreal (1995-97), Baltimore (1997-01) and Colorado (2003-12). McLaughlin pitched in parts of six Major League seasons for Houston (1976-79), Atlanta (1979) and Oakland (1981-82). He went 10-20 with a 4.49 ERA (313.0 ip, 156 er) in 156 career Major League games/21 starts.