Yankees Rumors: James Rowson Expected to Be Hired as New Hitting Coach

The New York Yankees are reportedly set to hire James Rowson as their next hitting coach.

Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported Rowson has been offered the job and is expected to accept. He currently serves as the assistant hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers and previously worked in the Yankees' minor-league system.

Kuty's report noted Rowson and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge developed a "strong relationship" during their time in the minors, which likely gave Rowson a leg up in the interview process.

The 47-year-old replaces Sean Casey, who came aboard on an interim basis midway through the 2023 season after the Yankees fired Dillon Lawson. Casey took himself out of the running for the full-time job last month, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Rowson takes over a Yankees offense that struggled throughout last season. New York ranked 29th in batting average, behind only the lowly Oakland Athletics, and were among baseball's worst in most statistical categories besides home runs and walks.

Judge, who hit 37 home runs in just 106 games played, also had an outsized impact on the Yankees offense. New York essentially fell apart in games without Judge, averaging just 3.7 runs per game with him out of the lineup.

The Yankees are expected to revamp their offense this offseason with roster moves this winter, but adding Rowson to the staff will be the first major move.