Dan Firova

Dan Firova
Catcher / Coach
Born: (1956-10-16) October 16, 1956 (age 68)
Refugio, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1981, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
July 28, 1988, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average.000
Games played17
At bats7
Teams

As Coach

Career highlights and awards

Daniel Michael Firova (born October 16, 1956) is an American professional baseball catcher and coach. As a player, he caught 17 games: 13 in 1981 and three in 1982 for the Seattle Mariners, and one in 1988 for the Cleveland Indians. In most of those games, he entered late in the game as a defensive replacement. He came to the plate a grand total of seven times with no hits or walks.

Playing career

While Firova was a freshman at Refugio High School, he accidentally cut off the little finger on his throwing hand with a band saw in shop class.[1] Despite this, he earned a two-year baseball scholarship at Bee County College.[2] After that, he played baseball at Pan American College, where he earned his degree, and was subsequently drafted by the Mariners.[2] He spent two seasons in the minor leagues with various teams, made his major league debut for the Mariners on September 1, 1981, and played in 13 games. He also played in two games in 1982, but primarily spent 1981, 1982, and 1983 with the Nuevo Laredo Tecolotes of the Mexican League.

Firova returned to the Mariners organization in 1985, and remained with them through 1987. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1988, and played in one major league game for them. He spent 1989 with the Chicago Cubs organization, then played in the Mexican League through 1993.

Coaching career

Firova served as the manager of Vaqueros Laguna in the Mexican League. He began managing in the Mexican League in 1993,[2] and was named that league's Manager of the Year in 2000.[2]

As a club manager, Firova won 3 Mexican League Championships with the Mexico City Tigres in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

The Washington Nationals announced on December 15, 2015, that Firova would serve as Bullpen Coach with the team.[3] His contract with them expired after the 2017 season.[4]

Firova was announced as the manager for the Triple–A Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League for the Spring Tournament of the 2018 season.[5] He was not brought back for the second tournament of the season.

In 2019, Firova returned to Acereros de Monclova as the team's bench coach.

On January 28, 2021, Firova joined the Houston Astros to serve as Quality Control coach with the major league team.[6] In 2022, the Astros won 106 games, the second-highest total in franchise history. They advanced to the World Series and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to give Firova his first career World Series title.[7]

References

  1. ^ Forman, Mike (August 18, 2016). "Refugio native's perseverance rewarded by Nationals". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Nelson, Kenda. "Refugio baseball star named manager of Laredo Brancos", The Refugio County Press, March 25, 2010.
  3. ^ http://www.TalkNats.com website
  4. ^ Adams, Steve (October 20, 2017). "Dusty Baker Will Not Return As Nationals' Manager In 2018". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "Dan Firova, nuevo manager de Acereros".
  6. ^ "Astros finalize '21 coaching staff with 2 hires". MLB.com. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Rome, Chandler (November 5, 2022). "Undisputed: 'It proves we're the best team in baseball ... They have nothing to say now.'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Washington Nationals bullpen coach
2016–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Houston Astros quality control coach
2021—2023 		Succeeded by
Jason Bell