Report: Kevin Seitzer set to join Braves as hitting coach
Toronto Blue Jays' hitting coach Kevin Seitzer has been hired to serve in the same role with the Atlanta Braves, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported Monday morning.
According to Bowman, an official announcement could come sometime during the day Monday.
Seitzer would take over a position left vacant by Greg Walker, who resigned after the 2014 season. The Braves ranked 14th in the National League in runs scored last year, finishing 79-83 and tied for second in the East.
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John Hart, Atlanta's president of baseball operations, has said that he would like to continue the club's use of two hitting coaches, begun two years ago. Seitzer would replace Walker; however, no replacement has been announced for assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher, who was dismissed from the team.
Last season, Toronto was fourth in the AL in scoring and second in home runs.
Before joining Toronto a year ago, Seitzer was the hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2009 to 2012. He also held the same position with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a season-and-a-half, beginning in 2006.
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Seitzer's major league debut came in 1986 with the Royals, when current Braves president John Schuerholz was working as general manager for Kansas City. Seitzer finished his time as a player in 1997 with the Cleveland Indians, while Hart was Cleveland's general manager.
In his 12 year career as a third baseman, Seitzer garnered two All-Star awards and hit .295 with 74 home runs and 613 RBI in 1,439 career games. In addition to the Royals and Indians, he spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics.
- Christopher Woody
