The Red Sox are progressing in their search to fill out the coaching staff. According to a source, they have interviewed Victor Rodriguez for the hitting coach job, and Arnie Beyeler and David Howard for the first base coaching vacancy.Rodriguez, 51, just completed his sixth season as the Sox minor league hitting coordinator. He was the organizations Latin field coordinator for four seasons before that. Originally signed by the Orioles in 1977 at the age of 15, Rodriguez played 19 seasons in the minor leagues, including 31 games with Triple-A Pawtucket in 1995, and parts of two seasons in the big leagues, appearing in 17 games, with Orioles and Twins. He began coaching in 1995. His son Victor Luis is a scout for the Sox.Beyeler, 48, just completed his 12th season as a manager, and his ninth season in the Red Sox organization. He has managed Triple-A Pawtucket the last two seasons, leading the PawSox to the International League title in 2012, finishing in first place in the IL North in 2011. Prior to that, he managed Double-A Portland for four seasons. Beyeler played six seasons in the Tigers organization, before he began scouting for the Tigers. He began coaching in 1997 in the Yankees organization. He has worked in the Sox system since 2000, except 2006 when he served as hitting coach for the Padres Double-A affiliate.Howard, 45, joined the Sox organization in 2004 as a minor league coach and just completed his ninth season in the organization, third as minor league field coordinator. Prior to that, he was a special assistant to the general manager for two seasons and a scout for three seasons. Howard, a 32nd-round pick of the Royals in 1986, played parts of nine major league seasons with the Royals and Cardinals.The Sox have also spoken to Rick Schu, the former Diamondbacks hitting coach and currently the Nationals minor league hitting coordinator, about the hitting coach vacancy.
Hitting coach and first base coach are the two remaining vacancies. New manager John Farrell has said he is considering naming an assistant hitting coach also. Farrell has already hired Torey Lovullo to be bench coach, Juan Nieves as pitching coach, and Brian Butterfield as third base coach. Bullpen coach Gary Tuck is the only holdover from the 2012 staff. Alex Ochoa, the 2012 first base coach, told CSNNE.com earlier this week he probably would not be returning to the organization for 2013.