Rockies fire manager Bud Black due to poor start
The Colorado Rockies dismissed manager Bud Black on Sunday while in the midst of one of the worst starts in major league history.
Bench coach Mike Redmond was also let go. Third base coach Warren Schaeffer was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.
The announcement came just minutes after the Rockies recorded a 9-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The win improved Colorado's record to 7-33 and halted an eight-game losing streak.
The move also comes one day after the Padres routed Colorado 21-0.
Black was in his ninth season with the Rockies. He went 544-690 with the club and guided Colorado into the playoffs in both 2017 and 2018. However, the Rockies lost more than 100 games each of the past two seasons prior to this year's poor start.
"Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable," Rockies owner Dick Monfort said in a statement. "Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better. While we all share responsibility in how this season has played out, these changes are necessary. We will use the remainder of 2025 to improve where we can on the field and to evaluate all areas of our operation so we can properly turn the page into the next chapter of Rockies Baseball.
"I want to thank Bud Black and Mike Redmond for their contributions to the organization across their eight years here. I appreciate their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best going forward."
The Rockies lost 94, 103 and 101 games over the past three seasons. The victory on Sunday prevented them from matching the the worst 40-game start in major league history, a mark owned by the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who started off 6-34.
Black also spent eight-plus seasons as manager of the Padres. He went 649-713 with the Padres. Overall, he is 1,193-1,403 as a major league manager.
Hitting coach Clint Hurdle was named interim bench coach. Hurdle, 67, is a former manager of the Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hurdle is slated to help provide guidance to the 40-year-old Schaeffer, who is in his third season on the Colorado staff.
"I believe that Warren is the right person to lead us forward for the remainder of this season, develop our young talent at the major league level and get our club back to playing a better brand of baseball," general manager Bill Schmidt said in a statement. "He has a great ability to connect with both veterans and young players and is an excellent communicator.
"Clint will remain focused on helping our players offensively and will continue to assist Warren and our players as an experienced voice within our clubhouse."
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