A familiar name in New York is reportedly headed back, as multiple reports say the Mets are set to hire Eric Hinske as their new assistant hitting coach.
Hinske, who was part of the Yankees' 2009 World Series team, was most recently the Diamondbacks' assistant hitting coach from 2019-21, and was the Angels' hitting coach in 2018 when current Mets GM Billy Eppler held the same position in Anaheim.
The 45-year-old joins the club after last year's hitting coach, another ex-Yankee in Eric Chavez, was promoted to bench coach, while Jeremy Barnes moved up from assistant to head hitting coach.
Hinske played in the majors from 2002-2013, hitting .249 in 1,387 games for seven teams (including .226 in 39 games as a Yankee in 2009). He is also notable for playing in three straight World Series with three different teams, as he was also part of the 2007 Red Sox and 2008 Rays, although he accrued all of four plate appearances across those Fall Classics.
He began his coaching career immediately after retiring, initially serving as a scout for the Yankees in the winter of 2013-14 before becoming the Cubs' first base coach in 2014. He was then Chicago's assistant hitting coach from 2015-17 before moving on to the Angels and D-Backs.
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