ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas manager Jerry Narron, who took over last month after Johnny Oates’ resignation, will be given a two-year contract extension.
Owner Tom Hicks confirmed Saturday night that Narron will get an extension through the 2003 season. The deal had not yet been signed, and general manager Doug Melvin will be working out details of the contract over the next several days.
“Doug and I have had extensive conversations over the last few days, and we both agree that Jerry Narron is the right person to lead the Texas Rangers,” Hicks said in a statement.
“We have been very impressed with the way in which Jerry has handled the ballclub over the last four weeks under some very difficult circumstances.”
Narron, who first joined Texas as Oates’ third base coach in 1995, became the team’s 15th fulltime manager on May 4 after Oates resigned. At the time, Hicks and Melvin said Narron’s appointment was for the rest of this season.
Even though the Rangers had lost three straight games and were 8-17 under Narron going into Saturday night’s game against Minnesota, Melvin expressed confidence in Narron, who had no previous managerial experience.
“He’s still learning on the job, but he feels good and has a lot of energy,” Melvin said.
Texas was 11-17 and 11 games behind Seattle in the AL West when Narron took over. The Rangers went into Saturday night’s game 19-34 and 22 games back.