D-backs promote Mark Grace

By foxsports
Published

The Arizona Diamondbacks have promoted Mark Grace to hitting coach of Class A Hillsboro, 16 months after the former All-Star left his broadcasting job following a second DUI arrest.

Grace was a minor league hitting instructor last season. He also served a four-month DUI sentence under a work-release program last spring. His new role was announced by the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Doug Drabek, the 1990 NL Cy Young Award winner, is returning as Hillsboro's pitching coach for a second season. Former big league catcher J.R. House will be the team's manager and Ben Petrick, also an ex-major league catcher, will return as a consultant.

Grace is best remembered in Arizona for singling to start the winning rally against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the thrilling 2001 World Series.