The Dodgers appear to have filled one of their four coaching vacancies. Last night Bill Plunkett and Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register both reported that the Dodgers are expected to hire Dino Ebel as the team’s new third base/infield coach.
Ebel, 52, would replace Chris Woodward who left the organization earlier this month to become the manager of the Texas Rangers. The hiring of Ebel, who is a highly respected coach in the league, should help cushion the blow of losing Woodward who was instrumental in developing both Justin Turner and Corey Seager into top-tier defenders as well as improving the defense of the rest of the infielders as well.
This will not be Ebel’s first stint in the Dodgers organization. Ebel spent six seasons in the Dodgers minor league system as an infielder and another eight years managing various levels in the Dodgers’ minor league system. He won a California League title with San Bernardino and a division championship with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. He left the Dodgers organization in 2005 to become the manager for the Angels Triple-A affiliate. After one year of managing at Triple-A, Ebel was promoted to the major league staff and has served on Mike Scioscia’s staff as either the team’s third base coach or bench coach since.
Ebel’s style of coaching should be a nice addition to the coaching staff. He likes his players to be aggressive on the basepaths and with the talent we have that could be a huge benefit.
His hiring should become official at some point this week as well as the hirings of a new hitting coach, new assistant hitting coach, and new game-planning/communications coach.