The Red Sox have promoted Dana LaVangie to Bench Coach, filling the spot vacated when Torey Lovullo stepped up as Interim Manager during John Farrell‘s medical leave.
Lovullo announced the move Sunday morning along with news that Pawtucket Red Sox pitching coach Bob Kipper will become the new Red Sox bullpen coach.
“We wanted to stay internal,” Lovulo said. “We know these two guys know baseball on a really good level especially from within our system. And I think the fit is going to be really special.”
LaVangie, a Massachusetts native who turned 46 last week, is in his third season as Boston’s Bullpen Coach, a position he was named to February 5, 2013.
LaVangie has also functioned as the club’s catching coordinator and helps out with advanced scouting duties, too.
A Red Sox lifer, LaVangie was selected by Boston in the 14th round of the 1991 June draft. He played 6 seasons as a catcher in the Red Sox minor league system reaching Triple-A Pawtucket in 1995. After his playing days, LaVangie was a major league advance scout for the Red Sox from 2006-12.