Gabe Kapler reacts to Dodgers hiring Dave Roberts as next manager
Considered the frontrunner for the Los Angeles Dodgers' managerial vacancy from the moment the Dodgers parted ways with Don Mattingly, Gabe Kapler shared his thoughts on the team hiring Dave Roberts.
Kapler, who serves as the Dodgers' director of player development, posted a handwritten note to Twitter commending Los Angeles' brass for the decision, despite being a finalist for the team's managerial position alongside Roberts.
Dave Roberts is an exceptional individual. pic.twitter.com/3hx6FpFmF1
— gabe kapler (@gabekapler) November 23, 2015
He writes, featured in the image above:
Dave Roberts and I played together twice. Once in 1998 for the Jacksonville Suns, once in 2004 with the Red Sox. The man is an exceptional teammate and a tremendous human. He is prepared and diligent. His work ethic is strong. Dave is going to do a phenomenal job, and Dodger fans have a man they can be proud of at the helm.
Roberts, like Kapler, has no major-league managing experience to his name, but was said to have blown the Dodgers' front office out of the water during his interview.
As the news of Roberts' expected hiring emerged, Dodgers players Yasiel Puig, Kiké Hernandez and Justin Turner expressed their excitement to begin playing under their new manager.
#Congratulations to My New Manager Dave Roberts #dodgers #2016 #newyear #newmanager https://t.co/J5d54pnHJX
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) November 23, 2015
Welcome back to the #Blue Dave Roberts! I really hope you like bananas!
— Enrique Hernandez (@kikehndez) November 23, 2015
Glad to have Dave Roberts on our side!!! Looking forward to getting out to AZ to get 2016 going already #LA @Dodgers ⚾️
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) November 23, 2015
Former Dodger and current TV analyst Jerry Hairston Jr. echoed Kapler's flattering thoughts about Roberts with a heartfelt message about him that he posted to his Instagram.
