Hulett will guide Indians
The Texas Rangers announced Tuesday that Tim Hulett will manage the 2007 Spokane Indians and Juan Carlos Pulido will serve as the pitching coach.
Hulett is a former major leaguer whose son, Tug, played with the Indians in 2004, his first year of professional baseball. Tug is currently playing for the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.
“I am looking forward to managing in a great city and continuing a championship tradition with the Spokane Indians,” Hulett said. “I’m equally as excited to manage where my son played his first year of professional baseball.”
The Rangers, Spokane’s parent club, announced in January that Andy Fox would manage the Indians, but Fox accepted a job as Florida Marlins first-base coach last month.
Hulett’s other sons are playing college baseball. Joe Hulett is a senior at McNeese State and Jeff Hulett is a freshman at Texas A&M.
“We do a lot of baseball around our house,” Hulett said.
Hulett played in the major leagues for parts of 12 seasons. A former first-round draft pick with the Chicago White Sox, Hulett also spent time with the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals, appearing in 720 games. He hit .249 with 48 home runs and 220 RBIs.
He was previously the head coach at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La. In the 2005-06 season, he led the Eagles to the 1A state championship.
When Tug was playing for the Indians, Tim had the opportunity to visit the area and said he is looking forward to coming back.
“We came up and visited and really enjoyed the Northwest,” Hulett said.
Pulido also has major league experience. A native of Venezuela, Pulido spent three years pitching for the Minnesota Twins. His last season was in 2004.
“We feel fortunate to have a major league staff,” Indians managing partner Bobby Brett said in a press release. “Their experience will be a great asset for our young players.”
Hulett and Pulido join another former major league player, Hector Ortiz, who was previously announced as the hitting coach for the upcoming season.