LOS ANGELES — Speaking to the media after the Dodgers’ season ended, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he didn’t anticipate any changes to the coaching staff this offseason. But there will be a significant change for 2027.
Co-hitting coach Aaron Bates will not return after failing to reach agreement on a new contract with the team. The team’s other hitting coach, Robert Van Scoyoc, is expected to continue in his role. The team has not acknowledged Bates’ departure or named a replacement.
The Dodgers’ offense ranked in the top two in the National League in batting average (.257), slugging percentage (.424) and OPS (.762) again last season, finished in the top four in MLB in runs scored (801) for the seventh consecutive season and was named a finalist for the NL team Silver Slugger Award.
However, the hitting disappeared in the postseason during which the Dodgers hit .195 as a team with a .590 OPS and averaged just 3.1 runs per game.
Drafted out of North Carolina State by the Boston Red Sox, Bates made the majors as an outfielder for just five games with the Red Sox in 2009. He went into coaching after his playing career ended with the Dodgers’ Double-A team in 2014 and spent the past 12 years working in the Dodgers’ organization.
The 42-year-old Bates was promoted to the major-league staff in 2019 and became co-hitting coach with Van Scoyoc in 2023.
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