Make California Post a Preferred Source The Yankees are looking to take a page out of the Dodgers’ book.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, former Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates is among the candidates for the Yankees’ vacant hitting coach job.
Shohei Ohtani greeting Dodgers first-base coach Chris Woodward. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Last Friday, the Dodgers had an unexpected coaching staff shakeup when Bates and the Dodgers parted ways after they couldn’t come to terms on a multiyear contract extension.
Bates had been in the Dodgers’ organization for 12 years, spending his first four as a minor-league hitting coach and then his final eight (2019-2026) as an assistant hitting coach. He eventually was co-hitting coach with Robert Van Scoyoc.
Bates won three World Series with Los Angeles and played a key role in the club’s back-to-back World Series championships in 2024 and 2025.
Last season, the Dodgers’ lineup finished as the third best in MLB, having a .257 batting average, 204 home runs, 756 RBIs and 801 runs.
New York’s hitting coach opening came after Brad Ausmus, who held the job for the past three years, became Astros manager on Wednesday.
During Ausmus’ tenure, he helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2024, but they were eliminated in the ALDS the last two years.
Brad Ausmus standing next to Aaron Boone in the Yankees’ dugout. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Last season, the Yankees’ lineup was tough to figure out. They finished in the bottom five for team average (.235) but also finished second in home runs (223), tied for 10th in RBIs (706) and ninth in runs (739).
Yankees assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Jake Hirst’s futures with the club remain unclear, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
