Rangers hire Pirates coach Banister as manager

Pirates bench coach Jeff Bannister has been hired as the new Rangers manager, sources confirmed.

Bannister has been Pirates bench coach the past four years under Clint Hurdle. He is said to have made a big impression in the interview.

Bannister, 50, has been in the Pirates’ organization for close to 30 years. He was a finalist for the managing job in Pittsburgh that went to Hurdle.

Hurdle was the hitting coach in Texas, and he was well-liked there.

Banister has been a member of the Pirates organization since they drafted him in 1986 in the 25th round. He batted 1.000 in his major-league career, having had one at-bat, a single that came in 1991.

FOXSports.com first reported Banister was getting the job.

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