One of MLB’s longest tenured coaches, Foley will stay with the team in another role.
He’s one of the originals. An “OG” as the kids would call him. Tom Foley, 58, has been with the Tampa Bay organization since 1996 before they even played a single game in MLB. Back then, he was a field coordinator. He then spent some time in their minor-league ranks before getting brought up to coach under Hal McRae in 2002. For thirteen years, Foley stood in the third base box for the Rays before Kevin Cash asked him to be his bench coach three years ago.
Foley has seen it all in over 20 years with the franchise. Literally…everything.
On Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted out that Foley was stepping down from his position as bench coach but staying in the organization in another role.
BREAKING: Tom Foley is leaving his post as #Rays bench coach per mutual decision. More soon on https://t.co/Vy8xnjpbqP
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) October 2, 2017
There hasn’t been an official announcement made on exactly what is next for Foley.
Now, however, Cash has a position to fill in the off-season. Internally, there are some candidates that could step right in and be the skippers right-hand man. Rocco Baldelli has been the first base coach for three years under Cash and has a very good relationship with the franchise and players. Current bullpen coach, Stan Boroski, could be another interesting candidate. He’s been in his current position for six years and has spent eight total years with the club. Before coming to the Rays, he was with the Houston Astros for 18 years as a coach and/or scout. During his tenure in Houston, he coached alongside current Rays pitching coach, Jim Hickey, for 15 years.
There could very well be worthy candidates outside the organization. One would think a more seamless transition would be to keep it in house. Foley’s resignation in the dugout adds to what is sure to be another very interesting off-season for the Tampa Bay Rays.
