The New York Yankees have announced the hiring of Sean Casey as their new hitting coach. Casey, a former major league player with a career batting average of .302, is expected to bring a fresh approach to the team’s struggling offense.
The decision to hire Casey comes after the Yankees unsuccessful attempt to interview him during the winter.
The hiring of Casey is seen as a departure from the analytical, launch-angle-emphasizing approach favored by former hitting coach Dillon Lawson and most of the organization’s hitting coaches.
While it remains unknown exactly what Casey plans to emphasize, his career as a contact-first hitter makes him the ideal candidate to help bolster the Yankees’ lineup.
“I’m just really excited about having this opportunity in the second half to impact the guys in the lineup,” Casey said in a statement. “The Yankees have a lot of professional hitters, and I’m looking forward to connecting with them and getting on the same page.”
“I’ve already spoken with both [assistant hitting coaches] Brad Wilkerson and Casey Dykes, and I can’t wait to utilize their skills and everything they have to offer. As far as our hitters go, I think every guy is different.”
“There’s no way to cookie cut hitters, and if you start doing that, you get into trouble and underutilize strengths they may have. I’m going to get to know each player and their approach at the plate. One thing I will stress is controlling the zone and hunting in the zone.”
“I want them to control their process and stick to their approach with the goal of winning every pitch. At the end of the day, we’re going to focus on making sure each hitter has a process that brings out the best version of himself.”
Initially, Casey has agreed to take on the role for the remainder of the year only. However, the team plans to discuss with him later whether he would like to continue in the position.
Many believe that Casey’s presence will help unify the organization, which experienced a split over Lawson’s coaching methods.
Casey’s close friendship with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, stemming from their time together on the Cincinnati Reds infield years ago, is expected to contribute to a positive team dynamic.
“For anyone that’s ever come in contact with him, his ability to inspire is one of his greatest gifts, and I can’t wait for him to tap into our players and help them reach their potential. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will have a tremendous impact on our team,” Boone said.
Casey’s reputation as one of the friendliest and nicest guys in baseball is likely to earn him the respect of struggling veterans such as Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, and DJ LeMahieu.
With the Yankees’ offense desperately needing a boost, the addition of Casey as their new hitting coach brings renewed hope and anticipation.
Fans eagerly await the changes and improvements they hope Casey will bring to the club as they strive to ramp their season into a higher gear.