The Detroit Tigers have hired Rich Dubee as the pitching coach, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. He brings a ton of experience to Detroit pitching staff, which contains a few young arms. 

The list started with 20 names, but eventually, it was trimmed to one. General manager Al Alvila and manager Brad Ausmus hired Dubee to take over managerial duties. 

At the end of the 2015 season, Jeff Jones retired from his well known coaching position. His playing and coaching career accumulated for 38 years of his life. 

"I’m very thrilled to be here and appreciative of another opportunity to coach at the major league level, and especially with an organization like the Detroit Tigers,” Dubee said in a conference call with reporters.

Former manager and current special assistant to the general manager Jim Leyland, bench coach Gene Lamont and bullpen coach Mick Billmeher gave Dubee recommendations, which helped Dubee get the job. 

“We’re very excited to have him because he’s got a lot of experience at the major league level and has the experience of developing young talent, but also the experience of working with veteran pitchers,” Avila said.

Dubee should ask for some aggression from his pitcher, but will want accuracy more than anything.

“I like to emphasize that we pitch inside,” he said. “We’ll have to protect that part of the plate.”

Last season, the Tiger finished third in the Majors with a 4.64 pitching staff ERA. Dubee will turn things around with a fully healthy rotation that struggled to stay healthy across the board in 2015. 

“I know they were a little banged-up this year and faced a lot of injuries,” Dubee said. “I think, in talking to Al, there probably will be some changes down the road.”

Meanwhile, Avila noted in early October to the media that the Tigers are looking to add two starting pitchers to accompany Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Daniel Norris. 

Dubee was drafted in the 1976 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. He only played for six years in the system before joining Kansas City as a coach.

The 58-year-old began his coaching career in 1982, but did not make a name for himself until 1998. He went to the Florida Marlins, now named Miami Marlins, from 1998-2001 as a pitching coach under Leyland. The Marlins the 1997 World Series over the Cleveland Indians with Dubee molding the staff to victory. 

Dubee made his move to the Philadelphia Phillies from 2005-2013. He won yet another World Series, this time in 2008 as the Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays. Young starting pitcher, Cole Hamels, was named the Most Valuable Player for the World Series.

In 2013, Dubee was hired as the Atlanta Braves Minor League pitching coordinator, replacing Dave Wallace. He kept that job until the Tigers offered him a position on October 29, 2015, which he accepted.