The New York Yankees recently parted ways with hitting coach Dillon Larson as they look for answers offensively without star outfielder Aaron Judge. They have already named a replacement for Larson, and it is certainly not a name that most would have expected.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed that whoever would be Larson’s replacement would be from outside the organization.
They did just that by naming longtime MLB Network analyst and former MLB player Sean Casey as their new hitting coach.
The New York Yankees today announced that Sean Casey has been named the club’s hitting coach.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 10, 2023
Casey was once quite the hitter over the course of his 12-year MLB career, hitting over .300 for his career with 130 career home runs.
Since his retirement in 2008, he has been a staple on MLB Network programming for more than a decade, joining the network in 2009.
Given his length tenure as both an analyst and a player in the MLB, he seems like the perfect hire for the Yankees, albeit an unexpected one. Fans took to social media to offer their reaction to the news.
If this is the mentality Sean Casey is bringing to the clubhouse I’m excited.
Plus I always give Jersey guys the benefit of the doubt (yeah I know I’m biased)
Let’s see what you can do Sean!!https://t.co/WJvYSSKuSN
— Joey (@DJLeMVP) July 10, 2023
Despite what my son thinks, I’ve got an open mind about Sean Casey being the new hitting coach. Career .300 hitter, most likable guy of his playing days. Hope it helps! pic.twitter.com/TS2wFG8REd
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 10, 2023
So the Yankees replace the analytics "hit strikes hard" guy who had zero professional baseball experience with Sean Casey, a pro's pro with a .302 lifetime batting average and a terrific baseball mind.
This is a good thing folks. https://t.co/Vx65Ez1SgV
— Not Gaetti (@notgaetti) July 10, 2023
New Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey caught a 468 foot foul ball hit by Josh Donaldson in the 2015 Home Run Derby pic.twitter.com/9X5fnaQzey
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 10, 2023
Sean Casey is the Yankees’ new hitting coach.
He brings a career .302 batting average, 11 years of major league experience, and a huge personality to the clubhouse.
I’m generally dubious about midseason hires but I think we have reason to be excited about a shift in philosophy. pic.twitter.com/oMO51Ntv3P
— Conor Maguire (@cmaguire2008) July 10, 2023
This hire is likely due to the connection that Casey and Yankees manager Aaron Boone had in the past. The two were teammates on the Cincinnati Reds from 1998-2003.
Casey has shown over his time as an analyst and as a player that he clearly has a great mind for the game. The question now is how well will he be able to teach some of the Yankees players that seemingly desperately need it.
Sean Casey will have his hands full in his new role, joining a Yankees team that ranks in the bottom five of the league in both batting average and on-base percentage at the All-Star break.
That being said, things can’t get much worse for them offensively, so maybe Casey can bring a breath of fresh air to an otherwise lifeless Yankees offense.
