Detroit Tigers Need to Replace the Hitting Coach Wally Joyner
In a Tweet from writer Anthony Fenech, Wally Joyner announced that he will no longer be the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.
Joyner has been coaching the Detroit Tigers batters for the past three season.
According to another Tweet from Fenech, Joyner will be pursuing other baseball interests.
The set of Tweets were sent around noon on Saturday.
This vital position will need to be replaced, so who would be the ideal candidate? There are several.
Barry Bonds
There is another hitting coach on the market. Barry Bonds served as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins. Of the starting position players, two batted above .300 and only the shortstop, Adeiny Hechavarria, had a batting average below .240. Despite the team having the second-highest team batting average in the NL, Bonds was fired at the end of the season. The signs point to a discrepancy between Bonds and manager Don Mattingly, not a problem with Bonds’ work with players.
Bonds might not be the first choice, but having him as a hitting coach and a regular member of the dugout would bring in fans. When it comes to hitting, Bonds is known for his ability to hit home runs and the Tigers are a team that relies heavily on the long ball. He could be a wise choice.
Victor Martinez
Another option could be professional hitter Victor Martinez. He does have two more years with the team as a designated hitter, but his aging knees have limited his ability to get on base. But, after 14 years in the Major Leagues with a career .301 average, Martinez has proven he knows how to hit. He could be a viable option to transition from player to coach. His ability to hit from both sides of the plate would give him added value as a hitting coach, too.
David Ortiz
The Tigers could also step out of their own staff and look to a recently retired hitter who helped turn around Justin Upton. Ortiz reportedly spent just a brief moment Upton and after that short time, Upton completely turned around his time at the plate. In his interview with Tom Verducci and Sports Illustrated, Ortiz said: “All I care about is [making] the game better, man. I want to sit down five, 10 years from now, watch one of those kids and be like, Man!” He could certainly help some of the other Tigers hitters who had struggles in the 2016 season.
Torii Hunter
Another retired baseball player that would be an asset in the Tigers coaching team is Torii Hunter. He may not have the hitting resume that Bonds, Ortiz, and Martinez have, but he has the personality and drive that would make him a powerful coach – no matter what he coached. He is highly respected and after 19 years in the MLB, he knows the game.
Ther person who fills this position could make a big difference in the way the Tigers approach the plate. Hopefully, the front office makes a wise choice.
More from Motor City Bengals
This article originally appeared on 
