Yankees name Pena bench coach

Nov 13, 2008 - 5:29 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees shuffled their coaching staff Thursday, naming Tony Pena bench coach and Rob Thomson third base coach for the 2009 season.

The announcement comes after the team fired third base coach Bobby Meacham on November 6.

Pena, 51, will return for his fourth season on the Yankees coaching staff, having spent the last three campaigns as the the club's first base coach. He previously served as manager with the Kansas City Royals from 2002-05, winning the American League Manager of the Year award in his first season.

Thomson, 45, will enter his 20th season in the Yankees organization and his first as third base coach after serving as the club's bench coach in 2008. He began his Yankees coaching career in 1990.

The lone newcomer to manager Joe Girardi's staff is first base coach Mick Kelleher, who spent the previous three seasons as the organization's roving infield instructor.

Pitching coach Dave Eiland, hitting coach Kevin Long and bullpen coach Mike Harkey will return in the roles they served in 2008.