Pulaski, Va. – An Arizona native has been tasked with developing the Pulaski River Turtles into the hottest team in the Appalachian League.

Major League Baseball veteran Clark Crist from Phoenix, Ariz., has been named the manager of the Pulaski River Turtles. Crist most recently served as a national junior college cross checker for the Arizona Diamondbacks, overseeing all junior college prospects nationwide for the club from 2015 to 2020.

"I am very excited to be a part of the inaugural season of the new Appalachian League," Crist said. "It is an honor to be allowed to work with these young, talented college players, and I am thankful to Major League Baseball and USA Baseball for giving me this opportunity. My goal is to provide these athletes an understanding of the game while enhancing their abilities. I am also looking forward to working with the Pulaski ownership and front office and meeting the wonderful, supportive fans of the River Turtles!”

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Crist played collegiate baseball at the University of Arizona, where he was the starting shortstop for the 1980 team that authored 19 late-inning comebacks en route to the national championship.

Crist was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round of the 1980 MLB June Amateur Draft and spent four seasons in Minor League Baseball, eventually serving as a player-coach for the Mariners' Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts, from 1982-85.

Crist’s Major League tenure includes scouting roles for the Houston Astros (1985-92), Boston Red Sox (1992-94), Cleveland Indians (1994-95), New York Mets (1995-97), St. Louis Cardinals (1997-2006) and the Cincinnati Reds (2006-15). Crist oversaw the signing of many notable names during his career as an MLB scout, including All-Stars Kenny Lofton and Albert Pujols, Covelli “Coco” Crisp, Mike Leake, Tommy Pham, Chris Duncan and Amir Garrett.

Crist and his wife of more than forty years, Leslie, have two children and a grandchild. Crist’s son Justin played Minor League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Crist’s daughter Randi and her husband Jack have one son, George.