Nats hire Bob Henley as third base coach

Needing a new third base coach, the Nationals have decided to promote from within, and have hired Bob Henley for the position. Henley has previously served as the Nationals' minor league field coordinator. The 40-year-old Henley has been with the Nationals/Expos organization for the last 11 years. He managed the Nationals' Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2009 and led that team to the GCL title, and has also managed high Single-A Potomac. Henley has been the Nats' minor league field coordinator for the last four seasons and is well-regarded throughout the organization. Henley started his professional baseball career with the Expos; he was Montreal's 26th-round pick in the 1991 amateur draft and played parts of seven seasons in the organization. He finally reached the big leagues in 1998, playing 41 games for the Expos. He hit .304/.377/.470 in those 41 games, but played in just two games in the Gulf Coast League in 1999 and then just one game for low Single-A Hickory in 2002 before hanging up his playing spikes for good. Henley gives the Nats three former big league catchers on their coaching staff, joining bench coach Randy Knorr and new bullpen coach Matt LeCroy. Henley replaces Trent Jewett as Nats third base coach. Jewett left to become the Mariners' new bench coach. This hire rounds out the Nationals' coaching staff.