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The Yankees fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson after their 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, which ended the team’s first half.
Casey, a three-time All-Star who hit .302 in 12 major league seasons, was a teammate of Yankees manager Aaron Boone when both played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1998 to 2003. Casey said that “having Aaron Boone in the dugout was a huge factor in me taking this position — with how well I know him and how much respect I have for him as a manager.”
Boone said in a statement that Casey’s “passion for hitting is infectious.”
“For anyone that’s ever come in contact with him, his ability to inspire is one of his greatest gifts, and I can’t wait for him to tap into our players and help them reach their potential. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will have a tremendous impact on our team,” Boone said.
New York’s .231 batting average is 28th among the 30 major league teams, ahead of only Detroit and Oakland. The Yankees are batting a major-league-worst .218 in 31 games since Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe on June 3, going 14-17 and entering the All-Star break in fourth place of the AL East at 49-42.
Lawson’s dismissal was New York’s first in-season coaching change since Nardi Contreras replaced Billy Connors in July 1995 as pitching coach on Buck Showalter’s staff.
The Yankees headed into the break with Giancarlo Stanton hitting .203 and Anthony Rizzo hitting .168 with no homers and seven RBIs since hurting his neck in a collision May 28. Josh Donaldson is batting .152, while DJ LeMahieu is hitting .220 after slumping last September because of a toe injury and then missing the playoffs.
ESPN’s Buster Olney and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
