Legendary San Francisco Giants manager praises Buster Posey's hiring

Bruce Bochy's impact on the game continued Monday with the introductory press conference of his catcher Buster Posey, who is the San Francisco Giants' new president of baseball operations.

The long-time manager's influence is now also noticeable in the front offices. Posey is now the second former Bochy player to win this title. The first is his current boss – Chris Young, president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers.

Bochy mentored Young while the couple was in San Diego. Young lured Bochy out of retirement last year and the three-time World Series champion manager made it for the fourth time, leading the Rangers to their first World Series title.

That season didn't go as he or Young had hoped, as the Rangers slipped below .500 and didn't make the playoffs.

Bochy spoke to reporters Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, as part of the franchise's season-ending press conferences. He was asked about Posey's attitude. As expected, Bochy fully endorsed his former player's hiring, which is consistent with what many of Posey's teammates have said in recent days.

“He’s been a leader on our team and he just gets it,” Bochy said. “He is a catcher who truly changed our club in how he handled the pitching staff and led the club to three championships behind the plate. I'm not surprised where he is now. He will provide the same leadership in the role he has now and he will be good. He’ll be really good because he has a great feel for the game and the people, so he’ll be good for baseball there.”

Posey, who is just 37, is several years younger than fellow Ranger Young, who played more than a dozen years in Major League Baseball and owns a World Series ring with the Kansas City Royals. Young is now 45 years old.

Posey played his entire career for the Giants and almost the entire time under Bochy, getting his start in the 2009 season. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2010 during the Giants' first World Series season under Bochy. Posey won two more rings, was a seven-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger and a two-time Comeback Player of the Year as he returned to the field after two serious injuries.

Bochy is one of the most successful managers in Major League history, having led three different teams to the World Series. He reiterated Tuesday that he will return to the bench for the 2025 season, the final year of his contract with the Rangers.