From the Red Sox:
BOSTON, MA- The Boston Red Sox today named Chili Davis as the club’s major league hitting coach. Additionally, Victor Rodriguez will return for his third season as the team’s assistant hitting coach. Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington and Manager John Farrell made the announcements.
A three-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion during his 19-year playing career, Davis spent the last three seasons as hitting coach for the Oakland Athletics. Over that time, the A’s led all big league teams in walks (1,709), while ranking fourth in home runs (527) and fifth in runs scored (2,209).
Under Davis, the Athletics finished third among American League teams in runs in both 2014 (729) and 2013 (767). In 2012, his first year guiding the offense, Oakland scored 68 more runs and hit 81 more home runs than it had in 2011. Last year, the A’s led the AL in walks (586) and triples (33) and finished fourth in times on base (1,989).
The 54-year-old returns to the Red Sox organization, where he served as hitting coach for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in 2011, helping that team to the International League playoffs. Before that, he was a part-time instructor for the Dodgers in the 2010 Fall Instructional League, and coached in the Australian Summer League from 2003-04.
An outfielder and designated hitter, Davis ranks among the top switch hitters all-time in home runs (7th, 350), RBI (7th, 1,372), walks (9th, 1,194), and games played (9th, 2,436) between the San Francisco Giants (1981-87), California Angels (1988-90, 1993-96), Minnesota Twins (1991-96), Kansas City Royals (1997), and New York Yankees (1998-99). He is one of seven switch hitters with at least 10 seasons of 20 or more home runs.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Davis became the first player from that island to reach the major leagues in 1981. As a player he was part of three World Series championship clubs, with the Twins in 1991 and in back-to-back seasons with the Yankees in 1998 and 1999. With the Angels during parts of 1993 and 1994, he was Farrell’s teammate.
“Chili’s experience and success as both a player and a coach make him a valuable addition to our staff, and we are excited to have him working with our hitters,” said Farrell. “In addition, we look forward to having Victor return to the staff. In his time here, he has built strong relationships with our younger players, some of which date back to his days working in our minor league system.”
The 2015 season will mark Rodriguez’s 21st in the Red Sox organization. Last month he was named Man of the Year by the BoSox Club for his efforts on the field and in the community during the 2014 season. In 2013, his first year on the major league staff, Boston led all major league teams in runs scored (853) and won the World Series.
The 53-year-old spent the previous 18 seasons in the Red Sox’ player development system as minor league hitting coordinator (2002, 2007-12), Latin field coordinator (2004-06), minor league hitting instructor (2003), and hitting coach for various farm teams (1996-2000). He began his coaching career in the Boston organization in 1995 after playing in 31 games with Triple-A Pawtucket.
Born in New York City, Rodriguez was signed by Baltimore in 1977 at the age of 15 out of Naguabo High School in Puerto Rico. He played for parts of 19 seasons in the Orioles (1977-84), Padres (1985), Cardinals (1986-87), Twins (1988-91), Phillies (1992-93), Marlins (1994) and Red Sox (1995) organizations, including 17 major league games in stints with Baltimore (1984) and Minnesota (1989).
