Five-time Gold Glove outfielder Gary Pettis has been hired to be the Texas Rangers' first base coach, completing first-time manager Ron Washington's staff.

Pettis' hiring was announced Monday, when the Rangers formally filled out Washington's staff. The staff includes former major league manager Art Howe, who was hired as bench coach two weeks ago.

Don Wakamatsu, the bench coach the past four seasons and a finalist for the managerial job, will be the third-base coach and catching instructor. Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Dom Chiti return.

Third-base coach Steve Smith's contract wasn't renewed by the Rangers. First-base coach Bobby Jones returned to the minors for his third stint as the organization's triple-A manager in Oklahoma.

Washington replaced Buck Showalter, who was fired after the Rangers went 80-82 and missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Pettis, a minor-league hitting instructor in Milwaukee's organization the past two seasons, will also be the outfield and base-running instructor for the Rangers. He was previously the first-base coach and outfield coach for the New York Mets (2003-04) and Chicago White Sox (2001-02).

Pettis was a .236 career hitter in 11 major league seasons (1982-92) as a player for California, Detroit, Texas and San Diego. With the Rangers from 1990-91, Pettis had 67 of his 354 career stolen bases.

Howe, hired last month by the Philadelphia Phillies to be Charlie Manuel's third-base coach and infield instructor, was a major league manager for 14 seasons. Besides Oakland (1996-2002), where Washington was on his staff the entire time, Howe managed the Houston Astros (1989-93) and New York Mets (2003-04).

Howe was on Bobby Valentine's staff with the Rangers from 1985-88.

© The Canadian Press, 2007