Kentucky’s Own Brad Wilkerson Named NY Yankees Assistant Hitting Coach
As I write this, we are all under a winter weather advisory. You know, I was never one of those "I despise winter" types, even though I've never been a big fan. But that's been changing lately. So thinking about something that puts me in a spring or summer state of mind is most welcome.
So let's do that. Let's fast forward to April when baseball season begins and put all this winter weather nonsense out of our minds for the time being.
OWENSBORO NATIVE NAMED NEW YORK YANKEES ASSISTANT HITTING COACH
Besides, it's time to celebrate one of Owensboro's favorite sons who has just added another impressive line to his already astounding resume. Apollo High School graduate Brad Wilkerson has been named the New York Yankees' assistant hitting coach, completing their coaching staff for the upcoming 2023 season.
BRAD WILKERSON'S MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER
After his 2001 Major League debut with the Montreal Expos (later, the Washington Nationals), stints with the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays followed. Here's Brad in 2005 becoming the first Nationals player to hit for the cycle (that's hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game):
Remarkably, that wasn't his first time.
AFTER BRAD WILKERSON'S RETIREMENT
Following his retirement in 2009, and a brief comeback attempt in 2010, Wilkerson coached the King's Academy middle school baseball team and led them to a league championship in 2014.And it was just three years ago that became an assistant for the Jacksonville University team and led them to an Atlantic Sun conference championship.
Fast forward to 2023, and Brad has an awesome gig as the Yankee's assistant hitting coach. Here's what he told mlb.com's Bryan Hoch about his new appointment:
My future role with the Yankees is just being there for the hitters. It’s talking to them about baseball, about situational hitting and decisions, when they’re going to swing and why they’re going to swing. It’s just seeing the baseball and getting these guys right, moreso mentally than physically, in a lot of ways. It’s just making sure their minds are clear and prepared each and every night.
So far this winter, I haven't needed a reason to look forward to warmer weather. I just do. But now I do have a reason, and I bet you do, too.
That sound you hear is the Yankees' fan base expanding just a little bit more in western Kentucky.