Juan Nieves Named Red Sox Pitching Coach
BOSTON (CBS) -- New Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided on his pitching coach, but it's not who most expected.
The Red Sox on Wednesday evening named Juan Nieves as their pitching coach.
"It became very clear that Juan was not only a talented pitching coach, but one I feel very comfortable with in working with our pitching staff," Farrell said. "I have known him for many years, and I have a high level of comfort with his in-game communication."
CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman originally reported the news earlier on Wednesday.
The news comes as a surprise, as Rick Peterson was believed by many to be the favorite for the job.
Nieves was most recently the bullpen coach for the Chicago White Sox, and his interview with the Red Sox lasted for seven hours, according to Heyman. In total, he spent 14 seasons with the White Sox organization, the past five as the bullpen coach.
Nieves, 47, is a native of Puerto Rico, but he's in the school hall of fame for Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. He threw a no-hitter for the Brewers in 1987.
