Kevin Cash named Rays manager
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-The Tampa Bay Rays have named Kevin Cash the fifth manager in franchise history.
"We are proud to introduce Kevin as our manager," said Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg. "His energy and dynamic personality will fit seamlessly with our clubhouse. We are fortunate to have such a talented individual, and Tampa Bay native, to lead our club as we strive to achieve new heights as a team and organization."
"Kevin is passionate, genuine and dedicated, and those attributes will resonate throughout our clubhouse," said President, Baseball Operations Matt Silverman. "As a catcher, a scout and a coach, he has always been a student of the game, and his communication and tireless work will put our club in a position to win, night in and night out."
Cash, who turns 37 tomorrow, becomes the youngest active manager in the majors, and the youngest manager hired since A.J. Hinch (Arizona Diamondbacks) in 2009, according to Stats LLC. He spent the past two seasons (2013-14) as the bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians, working with a pitching staff that set the major league strikeout record (1,450) in 2014. Prior to joining the Indians, he spent the 2012 season as a major league advance scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.
A veteran catcher of eight major league seasons, Cash becomes the first former Rays player to be named Rays manager and joins former Chicago White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen as the only former Rays to manage at the major league level. He appeared in 13 games with the Devil Rays in 2005, and all but 20 games in his career were spent in the American League East. In addition to the Rays, he played for the Toronto Blue Jays (2002-04), Boston Red Sox (2007-08, 2010), New York Yankees (2009) and Houston Astros (2010). Cash was part of two World Champion teams (2007 Red Sox, 2009 Yankees) and appeared in the 2008 ALCS against the Rays.
Cash becomes the sixth Tampa-born manager in major league history, and the second for the Rays, joining Lou Piniella (who Cash played for in 2005), Hall of Famers Al Lopez and Tony La Russa, Dave Miley and John Hart. A Tampa native, Kevin played in the 1989 Little League World Series for Tampa Northside, graduated from Gaither High School in 1997 and played three seasons as an infielder for Florida State University including a trip to the 1999 College World Series.
After going undrafted in 1999, he played for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League. When both the team's primary catchers suffered injuries that summer, he volunteered to convert to catcher and went on to earn team MVP honors. In August, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent.
Kevin and his wife, Emily, have three children: daughters Camden (8) and Ella (6) and son J.D. (1).
Rays Managerial History
Larry Rothschild 1998-2001 205-294 (.411)
Hal McRae 2001-02 113-196 (.369)
Lou Piniella 2003-05 200-285 (.412)
Joe Maddon 2006-14 754-705 (.517)
Kevin Cash 2015- x -
78 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers Report to Spring Training