NEW YORK: James Rowson, a former hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, and Detroit Tigers, has been named as the new hitting coach for the New York Yankees. Rowson, who has a good relationship with Yankees’ outfielder Aaron Judge, will be tasked with improving the team’s hitting after a disappointing season in which the Yankees finished with the second-lowest batting average in the major leagues.
The hiring of Rowson comes after the firing of Dillon Lawson at the All-Star break. Lawson had been the hitting coach for the Yankees for 1 1/2 seasons before being replaced by Sean Casey, who ultimately decided not to return for the 2024 season.
Rowson, a native of Mount Vernon, New York, has a strong background in coaching and playing. He previously played in the minor league systems of the Seattle Mariners and the Yankees and also coached in the Angels’ system. He has extensive experience as a hitting coach, having worked with multiple MLB teams over the years.
The Yankees struggled at the plate this past season, finishing with a team batting average of .227, which was one of the lowest in franchise history. The disappointing performance led to the team missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
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