The New York Yankees are looking for a reset. The team is determined to turn things around after a disappointing 82-80 season. While the players are being assessed, so are the coaching staff, and of late there has been a major update. As per recent reports, the Yankees have hired James Rowson as their new hitting coach. A comprehensive insight into his background and role is worth a while.

The 57-year-old has been chosen to replace previous coach Sean Casey, who recently resigned from the post owing to family commitments. Interestingly, Rowson will be the third coach to take this spot in a brief span of just five months. It was only in mid-July this year when the Yankees fired coach Dillon Lawson and brought Casey in. A lot is being talked about the move, but first, who is Rowson?

Who Is James Rowson: New York Yankees New Hitting Coach

Born in New York, James Rowson might not be a household name but has a good reputation in baseball circles. He started his professional journey in the mid-1990s after being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1994 draft. Dowson made his debut as a rookie in the Arizona Complex League, where, in 30 games, he averaged .189 with the bat.

The very next year, he was a part of the Everett Aquasox in the Northwest League, another team affiliated with the Mariners. There, he improved his performance by averaging .221 over 53 games. As a result, in 1997, he was taken up by the Yankees in the minor leagues. However, the next year, in 1998, owing to a string of disappointing performances, he shifted base to the Cook County Cheetahs in the independent Heartland League.

After the 1998 season, he decided to call it a day and move his focus to coaching. He started his journey at the rookie level with Provo in 2002. Soon enough, he moved to Class A level with the likes of Cedar Rapids in 2003 and with Rancho Cucamonga for the next couple of years. Little did he know that his association with the Yankees was set to take a new turn.

His Past: Has Rowson Worked With the Yankees Before

After serving as Class A Tampa’s hitting coach in 2006 and 2007, Rowson went back into the Yankees fold. He was appointed the Yankees minor league hitting coordinator for a term of four years, from 2008 to 2011, and a further three years from 2014 to 2016, thus strengthening his bond with the team even further.

Between the two tenures, he also got the opportunity to serve in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. After his association with the Yankees ended in 2016, he joined the Minnesota Twins on a three-year tenure that ended in 2019.

His continued association with the Yankees and his rising track record as a hitting coach earned him a reputation. Apart from that, his minor league stint with the Pinstripes helped him build an association with future Yankees captain Aaron Judge.

James Rowson’s Relationship With Aaron Judge

From 2014 to 2016, Judge spent the last three years working his way up through the farm system. While with the Yankees, hitting coordinator Rowson came across young Aaron Judge and worked with him during his time in the minor leagues. Therein, he developed a bond and relationship with Judge that stands to this day.

On being asked about his relationship with Judge, Rowson responded, “He’s always been a great kid. He’s always been a really talented guy, one of the hardest workers you’ll ever come across in the game, and it’s just fun to watch his talent. Finally, he reached his potential, and he’s going out there and he’s playing consistently. He’s playing really well at the major league level. So you’re really happy for him, the person, and the player. But he’s a really special person.” His good relationship with ‘All-Rise’ might have been a factor in his selection, but can he deliver for the Bombers?

What the Bronx Bombers Can Expect From Him From Now On?

In the past season, the Yankees had a real struggle when it came to hitting. During this season, New York recorded a batting average of .227, ranking only ahead of Oakland’s .223. This marks the third-lowest batting average in Yankees history, following .214 in 1968 and .225 in 1967. Under both Lawson and Casey, the Yankees hitting underperformed, barely averaging four runs per game. So, therefore, now the onus will be on Rowson to improve these stats come next season. The Yankees would believe that the New Yorker might help them improve their offense, as he did for the Twins. But is he really a good fit?

What Makes Him Perfect for the Yankees?

Rowson comes with a reputation for developing and nurturing hitters. He has 20 years of solid experience across all levels of the game and certainly knows what it takes to succeed. He is also known for having cordial relationships with players, and his ability to build personal connections and trust is second to none. The qualities he brings to the table are some that the Yankees desperately need.

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With the next season a few months away, it is still time to see how Rowson performs as a coach. But the Yankees are certainly not in the mood to repeat their previous mistakes. It will be interesting to see how a revamped Yankees fare in 2024.

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