Former Rockies slugger Dante Bichette returns to team as hitting instructor

New Colorado manager Walt Weiss has talked fellow former Rockies player Dante Bichette into joining him in Denver as the team's hitting instructor.

Bichette was a four-time All-Star and played with Weiss in Colorado during the 1990s. He retired after the 2001 season with a career .299 batting average, 274 homers and 1,141 RBIs.

Bichette spent the last several years coaching his sons, including Dante Bichette Jr., a prospect in the New York Yankees' organization.

Weiss was hired as the Rockies' sixth manager last week, replacing Jim Tracy, who resigned in October after Colorado went 64-98, the worst record in the team's 19-year history.