Rodgers Says He’ll Again Manage Mission Viejo Minor League Team

Buck Rodgers will return as the manager of the Mission Viejo Vigilantes, he said Monday.

A team spokesman wouldn’t confirm the hiring but said the team has scheduled a Thursday news conference to announce the manager and a new investor.

“I don’t want to take anything away from their Thursday conference, but I won’t deny it,” Rodgers said.

The Vigilantes open the season May 23 with a home game against Chico at Saddleback College. The team will again be one of eight in the independent Western Baseball League.

The Pacific Suns, based in Oxnard, are taking the place of Salinas, which folded.

Rodgers managed in the majors with the Angels, the Montreal Expos and the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected as the National League manager of the year in 1987 while with the Expos.

Rodgers took over the team last season in Mission Viejo after the team moved from Long Beach.

The team had won the league title both seasons in Long Beach but fell to 39-51 last season and missed the playoff.

Rodgers was away from the team for about half of the season because of the death of his parents.