The New York Yankees have added a former MLB player to their coaching staff.
This morning, it was announced that New York had hired Brad Wilkerson, an eight-year MLB veteran as their new assistant hitting coach.
Wilkerson came to the big leagues in 2001 with the Montreal Expos and was with the team through 2005, their first season as the Washington Nationals.
He then spent the next two seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers.
Wilkerson joined the Seattle Mariners and was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008, his final MLB season.
On Twitter, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com provided the news of the Yankees’ recent hire.
The Yankees have named Brad Wilkerson as assistant hitting coach.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 30, 2023
The 45-year-old Owensboro, Kentucky native enjoyed a pair of 20-plus homer seasons during his career.
His best season came in 2004.
That year, he hit for a .255 average, crushed 32 home runs, drove in 67 runs, and had an OPS of .872, which was a career high.
Wilkerson hit for a career-best .268 average in 2003.
That year, he also hit 19 home runs and drove in 77 runs, which was also a career-high for him.
Wilkerson was selected by the Expos in the first round of the 1998 MLB Draft after playing college baseball at the University of Florida.
He even earned a medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
The Yankees will be getting a veteran presence on their coaching staff with the hiring of Wilkerson, and somebody who brings great knowledge of hitting with him.
New York won 99 games during the 2022 regular season and captured an AL East title for the first time since 2019.
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