The MLB-worst Colorado Rockies have fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens due to their struggling offense, naming former manager Clint Hurdle as the interim replacement. The Rockies, with a 3-15 record, have one of the lowest team batting averages and OPS in the National League, along with high strikeout numbers and a lack of home runs and runs scored. Meulens, in his third year as hitting coach, was let go after a disappointing offensive performance last season.
Hurdle, who previously managed the Rockies from 2002-09 and led them to the 2007 World Series, will now take on the role of interim hitting coach for the remainder of the season. Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt cited the need for a change to improve offensive performance and expressed confidence in Hurdle's extensive baseball experience. Meulens, with coaching experience in successful MLB teams like the San Francisco Giants, the New York Mets, and the New York Yankees, was relieved of his duties following the team's poor offensive showing and previous involvement in an FAA investigation.