Dodgers Considering Hiring New Co-Hitting Coach

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ coaching staff under manager Dave Roberts is going to look a little different next season with hitting coach Aaron Bates not returning due to an impasse in contract negotiations.

The decision came as a surprise given president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously said he did not anticipate any changes to the staff. Even with the move, Robert Van Scoyoc is expected to return as Dodgers hitting coach next season.

As for whether the team could look to replace Bates with a new hitting coach, that is a possibility currently being considered, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

Van Scoyoc is expected to return as the Dodgers’ hitting coach, per a source, and the team is considering hiring an additional hitting coach to the big league staff after Bates’ departure.

It isn’t clear who the Dodgers might be targeting as a potential replacement, but any new hire or promotion from within the organization would have big shoes to fill. Bates spent 12 seasons in the organization, including the last four as co-hitting coach with Van Scoyoc.

The Dodgers have employed two hitting coaches since the 2023 season when Bates was promoted from assistant hitting coach. Van Scoyoc is entering his ninth season as the Dodgers’ hitting coach after first working for the organization as a hitting consultant.

Aaron Bates surprised by Dodgers

Bates said he was taken aback by the Dodgers’ decision to let him go as he had been under the impression he would be returning in 2027.

The move wasn’t completely out of left field as there had been external calls for the team to make a change after they struggled offensively in October for a second consecutive year.

Even with a lull during the summer months, the Dodgers finished the year near the top in several offensive categories this past season. Among them were batting average (second, .257), on-base percentage (third, .338), on-base plus slugging (second, .762) and home runs (tied for seventh, 204). Their 111 wRC+ trailed only the Chicago Cubs for the best mark in baseball.

The Dodgers additionally were named a finalist for the National League team Silver Slugger Award, and Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy were at their respective positions as well.