The Atlanta Braves have fought their way back from a tough start to climb within two games of .500 entering Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. But while the Braves are 14-9 in their past 23 games, other teams haven’t been able to rebound from their slow starts.
That includes an American League team that entered the year as a contender but has fallen on tough times. They’ve already fired their offensive coordinator and will turn to a former Braves player in an effort to turn their lineup around.
Rangers Hire Former Braves Slugger Bret Boone as Hitting Coach
The Texas Rangers announced on Monday that they are hiring former Braves infielder Bret Boone as a hitting coach. The move comes one day after the Rangers fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and happens as the Rangers are in a season-long slump, ranking last in the American League with 3.23 runs per game entering Tuesday’s action.
“Bret is obviously someone who has a significant major league pedigree as a player, somebody who’s well connected to the game through his family,” Rangers president of baseball operations Young said. “Embodies a lot of characteristics that will make a successful coach and that’s what our players need right now.”
The brother of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, son of Bob Boone and grandson of Ray Boone, Bret Boone’s bloodlines have an extensive major league background.
Boone enjoyed a 14-year career in the majors and was a three-time All-Star with a .266 batting average, 252 home runs and 1,021 RBI. His career also included a one year stop with the Braves, where he hit .252/.310/.416 with 20 home runs, 63 RBI and 14 stolen bases during the 1999 season.
The 56-year-old will work with current hitting coach Justin Viele and assistant hitting coach Seth Conner on Bruce Bochy’s staff and will look to help a lineup that scored just 30 runs over their past 11 games. It’s an interesting stop for the former All-Star but one that gives a former Braves player a new chapter in his post playing career.