Los Angeles Dodgers hire Dave Roberts as new manager

Former Dodgers player Dave Roberts has been hired as the team’s next manager, the team announced Monday.

Former Dodgers player Dave Roberts has been hired as the team’s next manager, the team announced Monday.

Roberts and Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler had reportedly been the finalists. 

Roberts, 43, played 10 years in the big leagues, last appearing with the San Francisco Giants in 2008. He had served as the San Diego Padres’ bench coach since 2011, and managed one game after Bud Black was fired last season.

Kapler, 40, played 12 years in the big leagues, and last appeared in 2011 with the Dodgers in spring training. He was hired as the team’s director of player development in 2014, and has no big-league managerial experience.

Don Mattingly and the Dodgers mutually parted ways in October after being knocked out of the playoffs in the NLDS for the second year in a row. He was hired by the Miami Marlins shortly after.

Roberts, born to a black father and Japanese mother, will be one of three minority managers in the majors next season. Dusty Baker of the Nationals and the Braves’ Fredi Gonzalez are the others.

- Kenny Ducey