Former Yankees captain Don Mattingly got a new role with the Blue Jays. The Toronto-based team has decided to increase his responsibilities within the organization. He has been promoted to take over as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Don Mattingly, a prominent figure in Yankees history, got the promotion at a time when he is being linked to many teams as a potential manager. He took on the role of bench coach for the Blue Jays during the 2023 season under manager John Schneider. In his new role, he will collaborate closely with the hitting coach, Guillermo Martinez.
Blue Jays look to Don Mattingly to improve hitting
According to a report from Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun, the general manager, Ross Atkins, has initiated changes to address the team’s batting issues. One of these changes involves the role of Don Mattingly. In addition to serving as the Jays’ bench coach during the 2023 season, the ex-Yankees hitman will be given an enhanced role as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Toronto’s pitching staff had a strong showing in 2023, boasting a 3.78 team ERA, which ranked fourth in all of MLB and second in the American League. They also recorded 1528 strikeouts, securing the second spot in the league in this category.
Despite their pitching success, the Blue Jays have pinpointed their offense as the primary area for improvement. In the past three seasons, the team’s hitting has seen a gradual decline. They scored 100 fewer runs in the previous season, registering 746 runs compared to 846 in 2021. Moreover, they had 61 fewer extra-base hits (499 in 2023 versus 560 in 2021), resulting in a 49-point decrease in slugging percentage, which dropped to .417 in 2023 from .416 in 2021. With a former hitting maestro like Don Mattingly in their ranks, they certainly want more contributions from him.
Don Mattingly, who maintained a lifetime .307 batting average, will focus on enhancing the team’s contact-hitting skills. In the previous season, the Blue Jays had a batting average of .256, which, interestingly, ranked fifth in the American League. Nevertheless, it marked a 10-point decline from their 2021 performance, where they batted .266.
As reported by the Toronto Sun, Don Mattingly, the former New York Yankees star, had shown a desire to contribute to the offense during the 2023 season and had already spent time in the batting cage. However, his expanded role will now establish him as a prominent figure in this aspect of the team.
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