The Texas Rangers have settled on a new accountability
partner for outfielder Josh Hamilton, general manager Jon Daniels announced on Tuesday.
Shayne Kelley, who has no history with Hamilton, has been tabbed to take over
that job in his position as a major league staff assistant.
The need for an accountability partner for Hamilton is critical given
Hamilton’s alcohol relapse last week.
Kelley has a history of working at both the collegiate and high school level.
He did spend three years in the Kansas City organization as a minor league
strength and conditioning coach. He has also worked with the college baseball
programs at Samford and Alabama as well as Athletes in Action. His last job was
a high school coach.
Kelley is replacing Johnny Narron, who handled the role from the time Hamilton
was traded from Cincinnati to Texas in 2007. Narron left the Rangers last year
to take the hitting coach job with Milwaukee.
The Rangers looked like they had a replacement for Narron in place last month
in Michael Dean Chadwick, Hamilton’s father-in-law. Chadwick decided not to
take the job because he wanted to spend more time with his family in North
Carolina.
Hamilton said last month he wasn’t sure he needed an accountability partner but
would have one if the team felt it was necessary.
Kelley has already traveled with Hamilton to New York as the All-Star
outfielder, who has had two relapses since 2009, met with doctors for both
Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
