Diamondblacks' coach Chris Woodward might have missed out on the manager's role with the New York Yankees, but the Major League Baseball heavyweights will still boast a Kiwi link.
MLB reported the New Zealand national team's assistant coach Josh Bard is one of a number of new additions to theBronx Bombers this year, as he joins their staff as their bench coach.
The 39-year-old New York native spent 10 years as a player in the MLB with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in various coaching roles.
He'll make up part of a new coaching staff under new Yankees manager Aaron Boone, and will work with the likes of reigning American League rookie of the year Aaron Judge and National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton joined the team this week from the Miami Marlins in a trade for Yankees' second-baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects.
Bard's reported appointment to the New York franchise means there will be Kiwi links across more of the league next season, including Woodward as a third-base coach with the Dodgers, and former New Zealand Rugby high performance manager Don Tricker joining the Padres in a senior high performance role.
