BREAKING: Omar Vizquel will not return to Tigers’ staff in 2018

By
Alex Muller
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News of the shake-ups with the coaching staff for the Detroit Tigers continues to trickle in.

It was first reported that long-time bench coach Gene Lamont would not return to the Tigers after spending 12 seasons with the club. Then new Tigers skipper Ron Gardenhire announced some hires, bringing along two of his former mates from Minnesota.

The latest news from the Tigers’ coaching carousel comes from Omar Vizquel, who will reportedly be not returning to the team in 2018.

Vizquel, who turns 51 next April, spent the last four seasons as the Tigers’ first base coach as well as the team’s infield coach and base running instructor. He joined the team when the club hired Brad Ausmus after the 2013 season.

Vizquel held a brief coaching stint with the Los Angeles Angels in 2013 as a co-infield coach under long-time manager Mike Scioscia. He also was the manager for Team Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic this past March.

Vizquel was a name that many Tigers fans felt should have been strongly considered for the open managerial position following Ausmus’ departure. He ultimately received an interview, one of three in-house candidates to do so — along with hitting coach Lloyd McClendon and third base/outfield coach Dave Clark.

McClendon and Clark are currently two strong candidates to be retained by Gardenhire moving forward.

Vizquel reportedly informed Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press that he was not going to be brought back to the Tigers in 2018. No doubt he will be considered for a coaching position elsewhere come next season, and remains a viable candidate to manage a club in the eyes of many. But for now, Omar doesn’t appear too focused on those possibilities.

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