Rangers eye internal pitching-coach options

ARLINGTON -- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the club will consider internal candidates to replace pitching coach Mike Maddux.

Outside candidates will also be interviewed, but the Rangers showed last season how serious they are about promoting from within. When Jeff Banister was hired as manager last season, he added three to his staff from inside the organization: first-base coach Hector Ortiz, field coordinator Jayce Tingler and dugout coach Steve Buechele.

The Rangers have already interviewed three pitching coach candidates from the organization. All three have paid some serious dues in their rise through the labyrinth of Minor League baseball, and all have much hands-on time with the Rangers' homegrown pitchers. Texas is also looking for a bullpen coach, but that's likely not to be decided until after the pitching coach is determined.

Here is a look at the internal candidates:

Danny Clark: The Tennessee native has spent 10 seasons in the Rangers organization, including the past seven in the vital role of Minor League pitching coordinator. He began with the Rangers in 2006 as pitching coach at Class A Spokane, and then went to Class A Clinton in '07-08. That '08 staff included Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz, Michael Main and Blake Beavan and finished with a 3.53 ERA, 1,050 strikeouts and just 400 walks. Prior to joining the Rangers, Clark was head coach for six years at Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn. Clark graduated from East Tennessee State University and holds a masters degree as well.

Brad Holman: A former Major League pitcher, Holman has spent seven seasons in the Rangers organization as a pitching coach, including the past three at Triple-A Round Rock. In the 16-team Pacific Coast League, the Express has finished fifth in pitching in two of the past three years. He also spent two seasons at Class A Hickory and two at Class A Myrtle Beach, and he was the 2013 winner of the Bobby Jones Player Development Man of the Year Award. He also had seven seasons as a pitching coach in the Mariners and Pirates organizations. Holman pitched in 19 games as a reliever for the Mariners in 1993. After his playing career was over, he worked for five years as a mechanic at Boeing Aircraft.

Jeff Andrews: He just finished his 30th season in professional baseball. This guy has been around so long, he was the pitching coach on the Class A Port Charlotte team in 1987 that included Kevin Brown and Kenny Rogers. Andrews started his career with the Rangers in 1986, and was with them for six years his first time around. He returned in 2009 and been at Double-A Frisco since then. Andrews was the 2014 Texas League Mike Coolbaugh Coach of the Year Award winner after his staff finished with a team record 3.39 ERA. He shared the '13 Bobby Jones Award with Holman. Andrews' range of experience includes an '02 stint with the independent league Lincoln Saltdogs and his season as the Pirates' pitching coach in '08.