SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners have hired former major leaguer Dave Hansen to be their new hitting coach, replacing Chris Chambliss, who was fired after the season.
The Mariners made the announcement on Monday. Hansen spent half of the 2011 and all of the 2012 season in the same position with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being fired at the end of the season.
Prior to joining the Dodgers, Hansen spent four seasons as a hitting instructor in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. Hansen interviewed for the job in Seattle when Chambliss was hired.
Hansen's charge will be improving a Mariners offense that was the worst in baseball. They finished last in the league in batting average (.234), on-base percentage (.296), slugging percentage (.369) and on-base plus slugging (.665).
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