Bodie Returns to Lead Hooks in 2012
Published on January 3, 2012 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Former Hooks hitting coach Keith Bodie has been selected as Corpus Christi's manager for 2012. That announcement was made today by Fred Nelson, director of player development for the Houston Astros.
Bodie, 55, returns to the managerial ranks for the first time since 2005, when he directed the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League. The 2012 season marks his fifth consecutive year in the Astros system and his 37th season in pro ball. He returns to the Sparkling City for his second season after serving as Corpus Christi's hitting coach in 2009.
"I've known Keith for more than 25 years and he brings a solid and diverse background to the job," said Nelson. "He managed our instructional league team this fall and showed his knowledge, teaching skills, ability to communicate, a winning approach and his passion for the game. Keith will do a terrific job leading the Hooks in 2012."
Bodie's current run in the Houston organization began in 2008 when he worked as the hitting coach for Salem (Va.) in the Carolina League. Following his one season with the Hooks, Bodie tutored Astros Triple-A hitters in Round Rock (2010) and Oklahoma City (2011).
Bodie's minor league coaching and managerial experience is vast. In 15 seasons as a manager from the short-season Class A level through Triple-A, Bodie's teams have compiled a regular-season record of 986-925 for an overall winning percentage of .516. Eight of his clubs qualified for post-season play, including the Texas League's Wichita Wranglers from 2000 through 2003.
"Keith is an excellent baseball man and will run a great clubhouse," said Hooks president Ken Schrom. "We welcome him back as our manager. His aggressive style is well-suited for Texas League baseball."
A third-round pick of the New York Mets in the 1974 draft out of South Shore High School in Brooklyn, Bodie spent nine seasons as a player in the Mets and Astros farm systems, reaching Triple-A with Tucson in 1981. Primarily a third baseman and outfielder, Bodie posted a career .256 batting average with 42 home runs, 294 RBIs and 98 stolen bases in 869 games.
He transitioned to coaching in 1983 with the Auburn Astros of the New York-Penn League. He coached with Double-A Columbus of the Southern League for two seasons before landing his first managerial post in 1986 with Auburn.
Bodie was named the South Atlantic League's Manager of the Year in 1987 when he guided the Asheville Tourists to a 91-48 record and an appearance in the finals. The following year his Osceola Astros made it to the Florida State League title series after going 83-54 during the regular season. His other managerial stops included Clinton, San Bernardino, Calgary, Phoenix and Bakersfield. In 1993, Bodie had the opportunity to manage the Maui Stingrays in the inaugural season of the Hawaiian Winter League.
Bodie also spent six years as San Francisco's Minor League Field Coordinator (1994-1999). Following Wichita's exit from the playoffs in 2001, Bodie served as a coach with the Kansas City Royals during the final month of the season.
Bodie becomes the fifth manager in Hooks history, following in the footsteps of Tom Lawless (2011), Wes Clements (2010), Luis Pujols (2008-09) and Dave Clark (2005-07).
Filling out Corpus Christi's field staff in 2012 are pitching coach Gary Ruby, hitting coach Joel Chimelis and athletic trainer Eric Montague.
Ruby, 62, enters his fifth season as a pitching coach in the Astros system and his first in Corpus Christi. He comes to South Texas after a three-year run as the pitching coach for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League.
Ruby has worked as a pitching coach or a minor league pitching coordinator since 1987 when he was hired by the California Angels. His nine-year stint with the Angels included stops as a pitching coach in Midland, Edmonton and Vancouver. He then worked two seasons (1996-97) as the pitching coach for Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.
Ruby spent four seasons (1998-2001) in the Phillies organization before landing with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent six seasons (2002-2007) as that system's minor league pitching coordinator. He joined the Astros in 2008 as the pitching coach for Salem in the Carolina League.
Ruby is currently in the Dominican Republic, serving his second season as the pitching coach for Leones Del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. Escogido stands 4-0 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Chimelis, 44, embarks on his seventh season in the Houston organization and his first with the Hooks. Last year, Chimelis tutored Lexington's hitters, and for his first five seasons (2006-10) in the system served as Tri-City's hitting coach. His first two years (2004-05) as a hitting coach came with the Savannah Sand Gnats (Nationals) of the South Atlantic League.
Primarily an infielder during his 13 years as a player in the minors, Chimelis posted a career .288 batting average in 1,264 games and 4,553 at-bats. He spent portions of three seasons (1992-94) in the Texas League with Shreveport, including all of 1994 when he led the circuit in doubles (43) and getting hit by the pitch (13).
Chimelis, a Southwest Conference All-Tournament performer for the Longhorns in 1988, played portions of seven seasons at the Triple-A level, including time with Phoenix, Norfolk and Dos Laredos in the Mexican Summer League. Chimelis played for Bodie when the latter managed Phoenix in 1995.
Montague enters his second season with the Hooks and his 11th as an athletic trainer in the Astros organization. Last year was Montague's first in Double-A after spending seven seasons at Houston's Advanced A level.
This coming season is the 15th for Montague in professional baseball. He worked four seasons (1998-2001) in the Mets organization before joining the Astros. Montague served as a student trainer at Mississippi State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in fitness.
Texas League Stories from January 3, 2012
- Bodie Returns to Lead Hooks in 2012 - Corpus Christi Hooks
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