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Jeff Banister of the Texas Rangers has been named American League Manager of the Year
Texas Rangers skipper Jeff Banister was named the American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday.
Banister led the Rangers (88-74) to an unexpected AL West division title despite losing ace Yu Darvish, who ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery, during spring training.
The first-year manager navigated the Rangers through injuries to pitchers Derek Holland and Darvish, the return of Josh Hamilton to Texas, the rejuvenation of a healthy Prince Fielder and the deadline acquisition of left-hander Cole Hamels to a postseason berth.
The Rangers scuffled through the first half of the season and entered the All-Star break 42-46. However, they turned it on in the second half and compiled a 46-28 mark to propel them into the playoffs.
"To be able to have this in year one -- tremendous," Banister said. "But it means that we had a group of players that went out every single day, they showed up, they played well, they beat back some odds, they were resilient, they showed some grit and played together and really, truly played for each other on a nightly basis, and I was most proud of that."
Texas' unlikely run came to an end with a Game 5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.
Banister is the third Rangers manager to earn the honor and first since Buck Showalter in 2004.
Banister earned 17 first-place votes and 112 total points to beat A.J. Hinch (82 points) of the Houston Astros and Paul Molitor (33) of the Minnesota Twins. All three were in their first years with their current teams.
Banister is the fifth manager to win the award in his first year. Washington's Matt Williams won in 2014, his first season as Nationals manager. He was fired after the end of this season.
"All the things that I've been through in my lifetime -- and there were a lot of times that I asked why -- well, there were times this year that I knew exactly why," the 51-year-old Banister said. "It was so that I could give another group of people some thoughts, some ideas, some toughness and some motivation to continue to press forward."
Banister led the Rangers (88-74) to an unexpected AL West division title despite losing ace Yu Darvish, who ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery, during spring training.
The first-year manager navigated the Rangers through injuries to pitchers Derek Holland and Darvish, the return of Josh Hamilton to Texas, the rejuvenation of a healthy Prince Fielder and the deadline acquisition of left-hander Cole Hamels to a postseason berth.
The Rangers scuffled through the first half of the season and entered the All-Star break 42-46. However, they turned it on in the second half and compiled a 46-28 mark to propel them into the playoffs.
"To be able to have this in year one -- tremendous," Banister said. "But it means that we had a group of players that went out every single day, they showed up, they played well, they beat back some odds, they were resilient, they showed some grit and played together and really, truly played for each other on a nightly basis, and I was most proud of that."
Texas' unlikely run came to an end with a Game 5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.
Banister is the third Rangers manager to earn the honor and first since Buck Showalter in 2004.
Banister earned 17 first-place votes and 112 total points to beat A.J. Hinch (82 points) of the Houston Astros and Paul Molitor (33) of the Minnesota Twins. All three were in their first years with their current teams.
Banister is the fifth manager to win the award in his first year. Washington's Matt Williams won in 2014, his first season as Nationals manager. He was fired after the end of this season.
"All the things that I've been through in my lifetime -- and there were a lot of times that I asked why -- well, there were times this year that I knew exactly why," the 51-year-old Banister said. "It was so that I could give another group of people some thoughts, some ideas, some toughness and some motivation to continue to press forward."