Assistant hitting coach James Rowson of the Detroit Tigers departs for the New York Yankees.
Following a single season with the Detroit Tigers, assistant hitting coach James Rowson is making a move to a different franchise. Rowson, one of the trio comprising the Tigers’ hitting department, has secured the position of hitting coach for the New York Yankees, a role that establishes a connection with Yankees star Aaron Judge.
Replacing Sean Casey, the 47-year-old Rowson previously served as hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins (2017-19) and bench coach for the Miami Marlins (2020-22) before joining the Tigers as an assistant hitting coach in November 2022.
The Tigers, under manager A.J. Hinch, now operate with two hitting coaches: Michael Brdar and Keith Beauregard. It remains uncertain whether Rowson will be replaced for the 2024 season.
Anthony Iapoce, manager of Triple-A Toledo, is being considered as a potential candidate for the Tigers’ first base coach position, following the appointments of Joey Cora as third base coach and the transition of Gary Jones to an unspecified role on the bench.
Iapoce, 50, boasts extensive coaching experience, previously serving as hitting coach for the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs, as well as hitting coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. In 2023, he assumed managerial duties with the Mud Hens.
Rowson’s ties with Judge stem from his tenure as the Yankees’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2008-11 and 2014-16. Rowson, a native of New York, played a pivotal role in Judge’s progression from the minors to the Yankees, following Judge’s selection by the Yankees as the No. 32 overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Rowson’s coaching tenure includes leading the Twins to an MLB-record 307 home runs in 2019. Additionally, he served as the Cubs’ hitting coach during the latter part of the 2012 season, following an initial stint as minor league hitting coordinator.
During the 2023 season, the Tigers operated with three hitting coaches at the major league level: Rowson (assistant hitting coach), Brdar, and Beauregard, all appointed in November 2022.
