James Rowson aims to fix Yankees with focus on process, shuns philosophy

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New Yankees hitting coach James Rowson is not in favor of making any major philosophical changes to resurrect the slumping offense. He advocates a focus on the process as the best way to do that. A day after he was confirmed as the new hitting coach, James Rowson talked about his likely approach for the team.

With over 20 years of coaching experience in professional baseball, James Rowson has honed his unique approach to optimizing hitters’ performance. In contrast to implementing a single, overarching hitting philosophy that would require Yankees players to adapt, his strategy revolves around identifying what drives each hitter individually.

“I try to stay away from the thought of a philosophy,” the new hitting coach said. “I think when you put yourself down that track, what you end up doing is trying to get everyone to fall in line with a specific way of doing things. I don’t think you reach the masses that way. When I’m talking about a hitting philosophy, a lot of it is getting to know guys more and what they do and that ends up being their path to success.”

James Rowson’s blueprint favors tweaks over tedium

The new Yankees hitting coach aims to tailor his coaching to meet the specific needs and styles of each player, emphasizing an adaptive and personalized approach. James Rowson, as he conveyed in a recent Zoom interview with reporters, characterized himself as neither strictly adhering to new-school nor old-school coaching methods. Instead, he positioned himself as continually evolving and learning in his coaching journey.

James Rowson avoided framing his approach as siding with philosophy, highlighting the importance of understanding each player individually. He emphasized the need to tailor strategies based on individual characteristics, believing that this approach leads to more widespread success among players.

“For me as a hitting coach, I don’t have one style. I think the player creates your style and you have to learn their style,” Rowson said. “If a guy thinks one way and produces a result, that’s good. You stick to that thought. If there’s another player who has the exact opposite thought of that and produces a positive result, you stick to that thought. I think your key is you don’t pigeonhole a player into your philosophy. You learn what they think, what they produce and that’s how you move.”

His approach centers on establishing connections with each hitter in the Yankees‘ lineup, attentively understanding what methods suit them best. James Rowson holds the belief that by doing so, he can contribute to the team’s pursuit of a championship—the ultimate objective he aspires to achieve.

James Rowson conveyed his approach to coaching, emphasizing a lack of a fixed style. According to him, the player’s individuality shapes the coaching style, and he stressed the importance of understanding and adapting to each player’s unique approach. He advocated for flexibility, focusing on the player’s thoughts and results rather than imposing a rigid philosophy.

Likewise, the philosophy extends to the Yankees’ minor league hitting division, where the affiliates flourished in 2023 despite the major league team’s challenges. James Rowson’s intention is not to abruptly alter the developmental instructions given to prospects. Instead, he seeks to scrutinize that approach, integrate its strengths in the Bronx, and explore avenues to enhance the performance of all stakeholders.

James Rowson mentioned that he had a background in development, served as a hitting coordinator, and worked as a minor league hitting coach. He expressed an understanding of the minor leagues and the necessary elements for progression. The new Yankees hitting coach emphasized the importance of maintaining effective processes when the system is functioning smoothly. According to him, regardless of the level—be it the minor or major leagues—it is crucial to continually assess the process and strive for improvement.

But it is far from being a simple task

James Rowson’s comeback to the Yankees, almost ten years after his extended tenure in the team’s minor-league system, coincides with the franchise’s most challenging season in decades. Taking over from Sean Casey, Rowson faces the responsibility of rejuvenating Giancarlo Stanton’s performance, guiding veteran players like Anthony Rizzo towards resurgent seasons, and fostering the rapid progress of young talents such as Anthony Volpe.

James Rowson, in his third stint as a big-league hitting coach after being hired on Monday, is still adapting to the new role. Early communication with Yankees players is underway as he starts to develop a plan to best support them in the upcoming season.

For Stanton, who had a challenging 2023 season, Rowson has initiated the process by texting the designated hitter. The next phase involves delving into video analysis and engaging in detailed discussions with Stanton to gain a thorough understanding of the slugger’s approach to the game.

James Rowson expressed his enthusiasm about Giancarlo Stanton, expressing hope that Stanton is anticipating the collaboration. He mentioned that they would have a conversation to discuss Stanton’s thoughts, feelings, preferences, successful approaches, and challenges. The initial focus will be on getting to know Stanton as a person, with the belief that understanding him on a personal level will naturally address the baseball-related aspects.

After the final game in Kansas City, Stanton expressed his intention to thoroughly assess his performance during the winter and implement necessary changes. The 2023 season wasn’t just a downturn for the 34-year-old; it was notably dismal, marked by career-low statistics such as a .695 OPS and a .191 batting average.

Given Stanton’s experience and distinctive style, any adjustments are expected to occur more discreetly during the offseason. While James Rowson can offer support throughout the year, he may serve as a valuable resource to ensure the frequently injured veteran adheres to his preferred routine and mechanics.

Working with Yankees’ rookie hitters

James Rowson can leverage his expertise gained from coaching in the minor leagues when guiding young Yankees players such as Volpe, catcher Austin Wells, outfielder Jasson Domínguez (once he returns from Tommy John surgery), and others.

The new Yankees hitting coach emphasized the importance of playing to one’s strengths, advising players to begin with what has made them successful and build upon it. He highlighted the role of a hitting coach in engaging in a partnership with the player, facilitating conversations, and making adjustments collaboratively. According to James Rowson, this approach at the professional level is more of a partnership than a dictatorship.

This mindset is set to be advantageous for a talent like Volpe, who faced challenges in maintaining offensive consistency during his debut season. Assuring Volpe that it’s acceptable to build upon the strategies that brought him success in the minors, rather than insisting on altering his approach against more formidable competition, positions him for a more successful second season. While adjustments may be made—considering Volpe’s .209 batting average, .666 OPS, and 167 strikeouts in his rookie year— the focus remains on incorporating elements from the promising prospect version of Volpe.

What about the coaching staff?

James Rowson has yet to determine if New York Yankees assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Brad Wilkerson will remain on staff under his leadership next season

The new Yankees hitting coach mentioned that he hadn’t reached that point yet. It’s something he’ll be discussing with [manager Aaron Boone] and the group, just to understand where they might go next. Right now, his focus is on getting himself acclimated. However, they will certainly have those conversations, probably in the near future moving forward.

Casey Dykes and Brad Wilkerson remained on the Yankees’ coaching staff after hitting coach Dillon Lawson was let go midway through last season. Dykes rose through New York’s minor league hitting program before joining the major league staff in 2022. Wilkerson, a former first-round draft pick and eight-year MLB veteran, was brought in as an assistant hitting coach by the Yankees last offseason.

The local kid factor

James Rowson hails from Mount Vernon, New York, and attended Mount St. Michael High School in the Bronx. Wearing the pinstripes and coaching at the major league level for his hometown team is a realization of his dream.

James Rowson remarked that growing up in New York City if someone had told him years ago when he was playing in Mount Vernon Little League that he would one day become the hitting coach for the Yankees, he would have eagerly signed up for that every day of the week. He said with a smile that being at this point and having the opportunity to take on this role for his hometown team meant everything to him. James Rowson added that while it was very cool, what was even more exciting was knowing that winning in New York would be amazing. He stated that this was the ultimate goal.

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