Rockies name Walt Weiss manager

The Colorado Rockies have named Walt Weiss as their new manager, the team announced Wednesday night on Twitter.

In a search that included considerations for Jerry Manuel, Matt Williams, Eric Young, Sr., and Jason Giambi, the Rockies landed on Weiss, the club's former shortstop from 1994-98. Weiss, 48, played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1987-2000. The former shortstop also served as Colorado's Special Assistant to the General Manager from 2002-08.

The 1988 American League Rookie of the Year compiled a career batting average of .258 with 31 triples and 25 home runs. He posted a .970 career fielding percentage over 1,462 games at shortstop and played in four World Series, including with the 1989 champion Oakland Athletics.

Weiss follows Jim Tracy as Rockies skipper, who went 294-308 in 3.5 seasons at the helm. Weiss becomes the sixth manager in the young franchise's history, in a line that includes Don Baylor (1993-98), Jim Leyland (1999), Buddy Bell (2000-02), Clint Hurdle (2002-09) and Tracy (2009-12).