Rangers Pick Ex-Aztec Kennedy to be Manager : Baseball: He succeeds Toby Harrah as manager in Texas. He never played a game in the major leagues.

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Kevin Kennedy, a former San Diego State catcher who had never played or managed in the major leagues, was hired to manage the Texas Rangers on Monday.

In signing a two-year contract, Kennedy was asked to do what 12 managers ahead of him have never done--get the Rangers into the playoffs.

“I think being No. 13 is a good omen,” said Kennedy, who had been a bench coach of the Montreal Expos. “I’m about winning. I expect to win.”

Kennedy, of Tarzana, succeeded Toby Harrah, who was 32-44 after replacing the fired Bobby Valentine in July.

“Our goal is to win the American League championship,” Ranger General Manager Tom Grieve said. “It’s important to me to win next year.”

Kennedy never had a losing record, going 534-373, from 1984 to 1991 as a manager in the Dodgers’ minor league system.

Kennedy played three seasons for Coach Jim Dietz at San Diego State from 1974-76. He led the Aztecs in hitting in ’76 with a .342 batting average before signing with the Baltimore Orioles in June, 1976.

Kennedy played six seasons at the triple-A level for Baltimore, St. Louis and the Dodgers.

While 19 former Aztecs have played in the major leagues, including Kennedy’s Aztec batterymate Dave Smith, Kennedy is not among them.

He will become, however, the first former Aztec to manage in the big leagues.

“I’ve been in the game 18 years and I haven’t felt like a rookie since 1976,” Kennedy said. “There’s no question I’m prepared for this opportunity. I’ve served my apprenticeship. There was nothing left to do in the minors.”

He is the eighth former catcher to become a current major league manager, joining Rene Lachemann, Gene Lamont, Jim Leyland, Johnny Oates, Buck Rodgers, Jeff Torborg and Joe Torre.

Kennedy, 38, said the Rangers will emphasize team speed and play better defense.

“My style is very aggressive. I like to make things happen. I like to run,” Kennedy said.

“I expect execution, and I stress fundamentals. I believe I’m a good communicator, and I enjoy the rapport with players. We will start on day one in spring training working on fundamentals.”

Kennedy wouldn’t announce his staff, but he is expected to hire Claude Osteen, who was with Kennedy at the Dodgers’ triple-A team in Albuquerque, as pitching coach.

George W. Bush, the Rangers’ managing partner, said the club narrowed its managerial search to four finalists--Kennedy, Harrah, former Padre and Dodger Jerry Royster and Lachemann, recently named manager of the Florida Marlins.

“He was a very impressive candidate,” Bush said.

“That came across to us in the interview process and as we talked to others in the baseball community. We were impressed with the strong rapport he had with all the teams he’d been identified with. He’s tough, but can be fair, and he commands respect.”

Harrah’s future is undetermined, but he might be kept on because of his knowledge of the American League.