The New York Mets hired Kevin Long as their new hitting coach, the team announced on Thursday.
Mets hire Kevin Long as hitting coach
Long wasn’t out of a job for ... an extended period of time.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Long previously served as hitting coach for the New York Yankees from 2007 until he was fired on Oct. 11 of this year. The 47-year-old Arizona native takes the place of interim hitting coach Lamar Johnson, who has been reassigned to a minor league role. Johnson took over in May for Dave Hudgens, who was let go after a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Under Long in 2014, the Yankees finished with collective OPS+ of 94 and ranked in the bottom five of the American League in most offensive categories. Still, the Yankees performed slightly better than the Mets, who ended the season with a 93 OPS+.
“Kevin’s experience, success and wealth of knowledge make him the perfect fit as our hitting instructor,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said in a press release. “This is a very positive step for the Mets.”
Long takes over an offense that includes a 30-home run hitter in Lucas Duda and capable veterans David Wright and Curtis Granderson, but not one player on the club finished with an on-base percentage of .350 or better.
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