Rodney Linares

The Fresno Grizzlies and its parent club, the defending-World-Series-champion Houston Astros, have called up manager Rodney Linares to be the new general manager for the Triple-A team’s 2018 season, according to a press release from the Grizzlies.

Linares, who served as general manager for the Double-A Houston Affiliate in Corpus Christi from 2015-2017, will become the second general manager since the Grizzlies changed affiliation to the Astros.

“In our three seasons with the Astros, we’ve heard constant positive things from the players about their experience playing for Rodney Linares,” said Fresno Grizzlies Executive Vice President and General Manager Derek Franks. “We’re aiming for a fourth consecutive winning season, and with Rodney’s sterling record as a manager to this point, I’m sure our fans are as excited for opening day 2018 as we are.”

Though never having managed at the Triple-A level for the Astros before, Linares comes to Fresno with a history of winning streaks to complement the championship clubs, which, alongside its World Series Championship parent club, won it all in 2015 with the Triple-A National Championship.

Between 2012 and 2016, Linares led both of the Houston-affiliated teams he previously managed for to the playoffs, starting with then-affiliate Lancaster JetHawks and moving to Corpus Christi.

Several prominent players who made World Series appearances also played under Linares on the Texas team, including infielder Alex Bregman, pitcher Joe Musgrove and outfielder Tony Kemp, who led all of Triple-A in base hits with the Grizzlies.

Much like the Grizzlies have done since coming under the Houston umbrella, Linares has maintained a positive win-record, posting 241-177 with Corpus Christi. He was also named the 2015 Texas League Manager of the Year.

Linares came into the position after it had been vacated by manager Tony DeFrancesco, who posted a positive record for each of his three years with the club. DeFrancesco announced in September 2017 that he would not return for the 2018 season.

The Grizzlies’ season opens April 5 in Reno, with the home opener April 10 against Tacoma.