Eric Hinske Rebuffs New York Yankees Inquiry

By Cory Buck | Oct 25, 2014

Jun 30, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Cubs first base coach Eric Hinske in the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Yankees reportedly reached out to Chicago Cubs first base coach Eric Hinske to take over the team’s position as hitting coach, but Hinske declined.

The Yankees are looking for fresh eyes and the New York Post reports they sought a relatively inexperienced name to fill their void at the hitting coach slot. Recently retired as a player, Hinske had served a short stint as a scout for the Yankees in 2013 before the accepting the job as first base coach with the Chicago Cubs. It appears that he’ll remain in Chicago at least for the next year.

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The Yankees have been looking to shake up the organization after their second straight year without making the MLB playoffs. The team had fired hitting coach Dave Magadan, but few names surfaced as a possible replacement. While the Hinske news in and of itself is minor, the signal it sends to fans is undeniable.

Instead of relying on well-known big names or steady veterans, the Yankees are willing to try something, and someone, new to the position in order to instill some much-needed youth and vigor into an organization that will require a youth movement of sorts in order to return to the steady playoff contention to which fans have grown accustomed. Embracing such a movement could make the Yankees even more attractive to prospective candidates.

The Post notes that other candidates include Yankees minor league hitting coordinator James Rowson and former Colorado Rockies hitter Dante Bichette, who also served as the Rockies’ hitting coach in 2013. Whatever direction the team chooses, it’s clear they’re leaving no stone unturned.

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