For the Los Angeles Dodgers, finding a replacement for Clayton McCullough after his departure to manage the Miami Marlins meant turning to a familiar face.
The club announced Friday that Chris Woodward would be returning to the club’s staff, this time as a first-base coach to replace the departed McCullough in the first full-time role Woodward has held since spending four years managing the Texas Rangers.
Woodward was part of Dave Roberts’ original staff in Los Angeles, serving as third-base coach from 2016-18. He returned to the Dodgers last season, serving as a senior advisor and roving throughout the levels of the majors and minors working primarily with infielders. He’ll continue to focus on the infield, with third-base coach Dino Ebel shifting his focus to the outfield group that McCullough worked with over his four seasons as first-base coach.
The pairing of Woodward and Ebel was called “one of the most talented duos in all of baseball” by Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes.
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Chris Woodward as their new first base coach. pic.twitter.com/KCnwsNxaKg
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 23, 2024
“We are thrilled to have Chris Woodward back on the coaching staff,” Gomes said in a statement. “He has been a staple to this organization, helping us to back-to-back NL pennants and was a key cog to our success last season.”
Woodward left the Dodgers after the 2018 season and went 211-287 over four seasons managing the Rangers.
With his appointment, the Dodgers’ coaching staff appears to be set. Gomes had indicated during this month’s general managers meetings that they expected to retain the same staff from their World Series-winning group in 2024, save for a potential change with McCullough’s status.
When McCullough left to become a manager, a former manager has now stepped into his place.
Woodward’s hire was the splashiest part of a busy day for the Dodgers. On the deadline to tender contracts for 2025, they non-tendered popular long reliever Brett Honeywell along with left-hander Zach Logue, the latter of which made two appearances for the club in September. They also agreed to one-year deals with two pitchers who didn’t appear in 2025 – Dustin May (for $2.135 million) and Tony Gonsolin (for $5.4 million) – to avoid arbitration.
(Photo of Chris Woodward from 2022: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
