NEW YORK – Dillon Lawson was fired as Yankees batting coach following Sunday’s game, taking the hit for the club’s substandard first half at the plate.
No immediate successor has been named, though the Yankees retained assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes annd Brad Wilkerson.
It’s the first time the Yanks have made an in-season coaching firing in GM Brian Cashman’s 25-year run.
“It has been well documented that I have been reluctant in the past to make changes to our coaching staff in the middle of a season,” Cashman said in a statement. “I am a big believer that successes and failures are collective efforts.
“However, I ultimately felt that a change was needed and that a new voice overseeing our hitting operations would give us the best chance to perform closer to our capabilities as we move forward into the second half of our season.”
Lawson, 38, was hired as hitting coach prior to the 2022 season. His dismissal came after the Yankees’ out-hit the Cubs 11-6, but lost 7-4 to close out the first half in fourth place, eight games behind the AL East-leading Rays.
The Yankees entered Sunday averaging 4.40 runs per game, below the league average. They’ve also been without superstar Aaron Judge since June 4, due to a sprained right big toe and there is no timetable for his return.
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