Kevin Seitzer has reportedly been hired as the new hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves, leaving the same position with the Toronto Blue Jays to accept the opportunity. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman first reported the news Monday afternoon, though the team has yet to confirm the hiring.
Atlanta was searching for a new hitting coach following the resignation of Greg Walker at season’s end. While numerous other teams have addressed their own openings for the position in the past two weeks, Atlanta never appeared to be in a rush to make a new hire. Over the past few seasons the team has employed a pair of hitting coaches – as has increasingly become common practice – and there have been indications that they plan to continue such a practice. Scott Fletcher had served as the assistant hitting coach alongside Walker, but his services were not retained by the club. Jose Castro, who’s served as a minor league hitting coordinator for multiple teams, will replace Fletcher.
Seitzer spent the 2014 season with Toronto, his lone year with the team. He and the Jays were unable to reach an agreement on a new deal, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. He’s previously served in the same capacity with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2006-2007) and the Kansas City Royals (2009-2012).
Seitzer’s playing career spanned 12 seasons (1986-1997) and four organizations (the Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, and Oakland A’s). He batted a collective .295/.375/.404 in just over 6,000 plate appearances – adding 285 doubles, 74 home runs, and more walks (669) than strikeouts (617). His 1987 season proved to be one of the best of his career, batting .323/.399/.470 with 207 hits for the Royals while finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting (losing to Oakland’s Mark McGwire).