Former Liberty standout Matt Hagen named manager of Spokane Indians

The Texas Rangers have named former Liberty baseball standout Matt Hagen to be manager of its short season Class A affiliate, the Spokane Indians, for the upcoming 2017 season.

Hagen played both corner infield positions, first base and third base, and catcher for the Flames from 2000-02, before embarking on an 11-year professional career. During his three seasons at Liberty, Hagen hit .303 with 96 RBIs, 77 runs scored and 28 home runs.

In 2002, he was named the Big South All-Conference first team third baseman. He hit .344 with 50 runs scored and team highs with 64 RBI and 18 home runs. He was also a member of the 2000 Flames squad, which captured the Big South title and participated in a NCAA Regional. The 2000 team was the first Liberty team in any sport to win a NCAA Division I Tournament game, when the Flames defeated Seton Hall, 10-2, in the Columbia, S.C., Regional.

Hagen holds the program record with 157 total bases in a season and is third on the school’s single season list in home runs and fifth in RBI with his 2002 totals.

Hagen served as volunteer assistant coach with the Flames in 2007 and again in 2012. He also was a member of the Liberty Strength and Conditioning staff in 2008 and 2009.

Hagen was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He went on to play 11 seasons of minor league and independent ball.

A native of Watsonville, Calif., Hagen spent last season as a coach with the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League. Hagen’s coaching career also consists of time with the Inland Empire 66ers, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and the Texas Longhorns.

Former Liberty Flame Tony Beasley (1988-89) currently serves in the Texas organization as an assistant and third base coach for the Rangers, while former Liberty pitcher Adam Parks (2013-14) spent the 2016 season with the Frisco RoughRiders, Texas’ Class AA affiliate.
Currently, Hagen’s sister-in-law, Erin Hagen, is the Associate Athletics Director – Senior Woman Administrator at Liberty.