LAS VEGAS — Zach Bove had a unique path to becoming a major-league pitching coach.

He described himself as “mostly a hitter” while at College of Central Florida from 2007-08 and at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., from 2009-10, where he played first base.

When he began coaching, the concentration was on those offensive skills.

“Started my coaching career at College of Central Florida, where I played for Marty Smith, and was the hitting coach for the first two years (2012-13),” Bove said during a video conference last week. “After the second year, (they) let go of the pitching coach and Marty’s the one that said, ‘Hey, you’re going to take over the pitching.'”

Bove didn’t really want to do it.

“But (Smith) said, ‘You’re going to be really good,'” Bove said. “A lot of trust in me

See Full Page