James Rowson, Twins hitting coach

[Cory Engelhardt]

 

https://twitter.com/GeorgeAKingIII/status/804444002225364993

 

Rowson is 40 years old, has been both the hitting coach for the Cubs and the Yankees minor league hitting instructor over the course of the past 10 years or so.

 

I don't know much other than what Wikipedia says. Thoughts?

[Kwak]

Another sign that the "Minnesota Fraternity" is being disassembled.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'd never heard of him, but then again, that means absolutely nothing in terms of his qualifications. 

[Vanimal46]

Well, if this guy made Gary Sanchez into a hitting machine, welcome aboard! 

[Andrew Luedtke]

Finally a move that isn't a Twins "good ol' boy". Curious to see who has the connection with him. Falvey/Levine or Mollie/other coaches? 

[USAFChief]

 

Well, if this guy made Gary Sanchez into a hitting machine, welcome aboard! 

Gary Sanchez??!?

 

pfft.

 

Look what he did with Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio!

[Mr. Brooks]

Gary Sanchez??!?

 

pfft.

 

Look what he did with Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio!

Ruth didn't play in the Yankees milb system. He came over from the Red Sox. You might not have heard about that.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Gary Sanchez??!?

 

pfft.

 

Look what he did with Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio!

I'll take Sanchez. To sorta paraphrase Ty Cobb, I don't think either Ruth or Dimaggio could hit over .220 in today's game. Of course, it would help if they weren't six feet under.

 

[Thrylos]

Pretty nice pedigree:

Yankees MiLB hitting coordinator 2008-2011

Cubs hitting coach 2012-2013

Yankees hitting coordinator 2014-

 

So glad that it did not go to Allen, or maybe even worse Vavra, but they got someone from clubs with winning traditions

[Lonestar]

Pretty nice pedigree:

Yankees MiLB hitting coordinator 2008-2011

Cubs hitting coach 2012-2013

Yankees hitting coordinator 2014-

 

So glad that it did not go to Allen, or maybe even worse Vavra, but they got someone from clubs with winning traditions

Not those Cubs

[old nurse]

http://www.insidebaseball.com/instructor-detail/?inst=106

 

IDK, somwonw can watch and tell us if he sems to know what he ia doing

[Squirrel]

Gary Sanchez??!?

 

pfft.

 

Look what he did with Babe Ruth and Joe Dimaggio!

You would know, being an old guy even back then.

[spinowner]

 

I'll take Sanchez. To sorta paraphrase Ty Cobb, I don't think either Ruth or Dimaggio could hit over .220 in today's game. Of course, it would help if they weren't six feet under.

Reminds me of the Steven Wright joke:

"If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?"

"Someone living."

[Doomtints]

I don't know him.  His resume looks decent.  I'm betting he will do a good job and will be an upgrade.

[Seth Stohs]

Twins make it official:

 

 

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have named James Rowson as Hitting Coach.

 

“We are excited to add James Rowson to our major league coaching staff,” said Twins Executive Vice President/Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey.  “James is someone who possesses all of the attributes of an impact coach and he’s held in high regard by those who’ve had the chance to work alongside him.  It was clear to Paul, Thad, and myself that James is the perfect fit for our organization moving forward.”

 

Rowson, 40, served the previous three seasons as the minor league hitting coordinator for the New York Yankees.  The 2017 season will mark Rowson’s 16th in professional baseball as he previously worked as the major league hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs from June of 2012 through 2013, Cubs minor league hitting coordinator in 2012, Yankees minor league hitting coordinator from 2008-11 and hitting coach at Single-A Tampa from 2006-07.  Prior to that, he worked four seasons in the Los Angeles Angels organization as minor league hitting coach for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga from 2004-05, Single-A Cedar Rapids in 2003 and Rookie-Level Provo in 2002.

 

The Mount Vernon, New York native was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the ninth round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft and played four seasons in the minor leagues for the Mariners and Yankees organizations from 1995-98.

[Doomtints]

The next question -- will he be the manager starting in 2018?

[Blake]

Whether or not this is good hire remains to be see. However, I agree that going outside the organization is a good change of direction. 

[mikelink45]

Just looked him up and it made me chuckle - a hitting coach with a terrible batting record - http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=rowson001jam  reminds me of how many lousy players become great managers (Earl Weaver) and how many mediocre pitchers become great pitching coaches.  Is it the struggle that borderline players have to survive that forces them to pay attention to the details that great players can bypass?  

 

Good luck to Mr. Rowson, I hope he is a miracle worker because he has some really good bats to work with on this roster.

[Doomtints]

 

reminds me of how many lousy players become great managers (Earl Weaver) and how many mediocre pitchers become great pitching coaches.  

Never fear.  Some bad pitchers go on to become bad actors with ill-fitting toupees.  So not every bad ball player turns into a swan.  

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=patter001sco

 

 

[theBOMisthebomb]

Thank you for getting a new face in the mix and moving in a new (hopefully successful) direction.

[Cory Engelhardt]

 

Not those Cubs

 

Those Cubs, in the majors, weren't good. Doesn't mean it was necessarily his fault for that.

[Rosterman]

Interesting that he's also been a minor league coordinator. The real coaching shuffle will happen if the Twins make major changes up-and-down their system, especially in the main coordinators out of Ft. Myers. Be interesting to see the final coach choice.

 

Well, Molly and Allen managed to hold onto their jobs for another season.

 

We can only wait, see and hope!