TORONTO — Charlie Montoyo, a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. He succeeds John Gibbons, who was let go after the team finished 73-89.
Montoyo has a three-year contract with a club option for 2022. He is to be introduced at a news conference Monday.
Montoyo is a 53-year-old Puerto Rican who worked as the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Before that, he was their third-base coach for three years.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement that Montoyo is “a highly regarded leader” with “a superior ability to connect and relate.”
Montoyo becomes the 13th manager in Blue Jays history. He will be responsible for the development of top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is expected to join the Blue Jays in April.
Before joining the parent club, Montoyo spent 18 seasons managing in the Rays’ minor league system. He won seven International League South Division titles and two Governors’ Cup championships (2009, 2013) with Triple-A Durham. He also worked with the Puerto Rican team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
A second baseman who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987, Montoyo spent 10 seasons in the minors. His only major league experience was a four-game stint with the Montreal Expos in 1993.
Gibbons went 791-787 in 11 seasons during two stints managing Toronto, leading the team to ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. Toronto had losing records in 2017 and 2018.
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