D-Backs hire Petrick as consultant

Former major-leaguer Ben Petrick has returned to baseball as a consultant to the coaching staff of the Arizona Diamondbacks' short-season Class A affiliate, the Hillsboro Hops, the team announced.

Petrick, 35, was forced to retire in 2004 after fighting early-onset Parkinson's disease. The Hops play in his hometown of Hillsboro, Ore.

Petrick had been considered as one of the sport's top catching prospects, and made his debut with the Colorado Rockies in 1999.

"Hillsboro native Ben Petrick will be a tremendous addition to our coaching staff," Hops vice president K.L. Wombacher said in a statement. "Ben is an inspiration to many and we're excited that he will be able to serve as a mentor to the young players in our organization."