Padres Lose San Antonio Missions Manager Dauer To Astros

On Friday, the San Diego Padres Double-A affiliate manager Rich Dauer accepted a position with the Houston Astros, joining former interim General Manager A.J. Hinch and his staff for 2015 in Houston. His new position will be first base coach and infield instructor. 

More from Padres News

• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

Dauer joined the San Antonio Missions in December of 2012, replacing then-manager John Gibbons, who rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays for his second stint as their skipper. The Missions went on to win the Texas League title in 2013, and Dauer was named Manager of the Year in the Texas League that year. San Antonio this year finished close to .500 at 68-72.

This was Dauer’s seventh time managing an affiliated prospect organization, giving tons of experience to A.J. Hinch’s ballclub and expertise in working with young players and the Astros will have tons of young talent to work with. He has served with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the American League champion Kansas City Royals, and the Milwaukee Brewers, but most recently with the Colorado Rockies, his final year was in 2012 on the hot corner at third base and infield instructor.

Dauer’s playing career included 10 years with the Baltimore Orioles, including being part of the 1983 World Championship team. Dauer currently holds American League single-season records in consecutive errorless games and consecutive errorless chances at second base. Clearly Hinch trusts Dauer’s infield experience and the Padres will be losing a great asset.

Dauer will get his chance to defeat his former organization on April 27-29, 2015. Since the Astros moved out of the N.L. Central to the A.L. West a few years back, we’d normally see the Astros every year at Petco, but now it will be once every few years. Not exactly huge news for the Padres, but Dauer could be a future manager someday.