Dodgers to hire Prior as bullpen coach

[January 03, 2018]    The Los Angeles Dodgers have an agreement with Mark Prior for the former major league pitcher to become the team's next bullpen coach, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

Prior, 37, last pitched in the majors in 2006 and officially retired after the 2013 season. He has been with the San Diego Padres since then, most recently working as the franchise's minor league pitching coordinator. Yahoo! Sports and MLB.com both reported on Tuesday that Prior has agreed to join the Dodgers.

He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the No. 2 overall pick in 2001, and broke into the majors the following season. Prior pitched over parts of five major league seasons, and was an All-Star in 2003, when he went on to finish third in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

However, Prior was oft-injured during his 12-year career and finished with a 42-29 record with a 3.51 ERA.

He has ties to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, as the two worked together when Roberts was a bench coach for former Padres manager Bud Black. In Los Angeles, Prior will replace Josh Bard, who left the Dodgers to serve as new Yankees manager Aaron Boone's bench coach.

--Field Level Media

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