Didi Gregorius

Former Yankees hitting coach praises his replacement

Published Nov. 4, 2015 12:38 a.m. ET

foxsports

On Monday, the New York Yankees promoted Alan Cockrell, their assistant hitting coach, to replace former hitting coach Jeff Pentland.

Pentland wasn't bitter, however, instead praised Cockrell.

“I fully expect him to be able to do it,’’ Pentland told The New York Post. “I love the guy. Alan is very good. Every chance I get, I pump him up. If I didn’t stay in the job, I wanted him to get it.’’

Cockrell will be joined by Marcus Thames, who spent 2015 as the hitting coach with the Yankees Triple-A affiliate.

Pentland was especially complimentary of Cockrell and his work with Didi Gregorius.

“He didn’t trust a lot of people and rightfully so with what happened in Arizona."

Gregorius was traded to the Yankees after an up-and-down season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struggled early, hitting .206 in April, but turned it around in July and August, hitting .317 and .310, respectively.

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Didi Gregorius

New York Yankees

Major League Baseball