Mandatory Credit: MLB photos via USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets have hired Eric Hinske as an assistant hitting coach, according to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal. MMO has confirmed the report.
Hinske played 11 years in the majors and has been coaching since 2014.
Hinske has been a hitting coach since 2014 when he took on a position with the Chicago Cubs, a place he remained until 2017. Hinske then spent 2017 as the hitting coach of the Los Angeles Angels, where he was replaced after one season. His last job was in Arizona as the assistant hitting coach for the Diamondbacks from 2019 to June 2021.
The 2002 American League Rookie of the Year and three-time World Series champion now joins Buck Showalter‘s staff. He’ll work alongside Jeremy Barnes, who was promoted to hitting coach as Eric Chavez became the Mets bench coach.
Chavez’s promotion led to the opening of the position. In his first year as the Mets hitting coach, Chavez was praised for turning around the Mets offense. Part of that success was Barnes whose promotion may have been motivated by other teams looking into the Mets coach.
Last year’s bench coach Glenn Sherlock is transitioning to a different role on the Mets coaching staff, mainly one where he’ll work with catchers.
Hinske was looked at last season by the Yankees to replace the departure of Chavez. He was “well-liked” by the organization and was formerly a player and scout for them.
Coincidentally, Eppler was in the Yankees’ front office when they traded for Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr. at the trade deadline in 2009.
