PHOENIX (AP) – Connor Dawson is a psychologist, gatekeeper, analyst and strategist. And a hitting coach, too.
Tough job.
“There’s just so much out there for one guy to handle now that wasn’t the case 20 years ago,” Dawson said.
The 28-year-old Dawson is one of two new hitting coaches for the Milwaukee Brewers, hired along with Ozzie Timmons after Andy Haines was let go in October. Haines ended up in Pittsburgh, part of a remarkable shakeup for one of the highest profile positions on a major league coaching staff.
A whopping 17 teams made a change at hitting coach in the offseason. The Brewers, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners opted to give the title to two people after previously going with one, joining the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.