According to Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers announced yesterday that Dave Hansen will not return as hitting coach next season. Meanwhile, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, bench coach Trey Hillman, third base coach Tim Wallach, first base coach Davey Lopes and bullpen coach Kenny Howell are all slated to return.
Hansen was promoted from hitting instructor to hitting coach last July after Jeff Pentland was fired, but he’s taking the hit after the Dodgers finished 16th in batting average and 26th in runs and on-base percentage this season. However, he has been offered another position within the organization.
No word on a potential replacement for Hansen, but Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune speculated this morning that Rudy Jaramillo could be a potential fit. Jaramillo was fired as hitting coach of the Cubs in June during his third season on the job. One of the more highly-respected hitting instructors in the game, the 61-year-old previously served as hitting coach with the Rangers from 1995-2009.
Of course, whoever replaces Hansen will look like a genius if the Dodgers get full and healthy seasons from the likes of Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Carl Crawford.
