The New York Yankees have a new hitting coach, Dillon Lawson. The change was caused by the Yankees not renewing the contract of Marcus Thames that oversaw the poor hitting lineup in 2021. Thames was the hitting coach from 2018 when Aaron Boone was hired as the new Yankee manager replacing Joe Girardi. Thames came under fire this past season when the Yankees only came in in the middle of that pack in most categories. Lawson was elevated to hitting coach Casey Dykes, and Eric Chavez will act as assistant hitting coaches.
After Thames, it’s difficult not to be excited with the addition of Lawson; with his analytical approach to coaching, he could potentially turn the careers around for Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez, and Miguel Andujar. He could also help out DJ LeMahieu and Joey Gallo that did not perform as expected last season. It’s looking possible with Lawson’s tools, and vast knowledge of hitting could leave a very positive impression.
Lawson attended Transylvania University, in Kentucky where he played college baseball. He was a catcher and part-time first baseman. When he graduated, he was a coach from 2007 thru 2009 at Lindenwood University, IMG Academy until 2011, and Morehead State. He became hitting coach for Southeast Missouri thru 2015 and for the University of Missouri through 2018 for the Tri-City Valley Cats and the Quad Cities River Bandits. He was hired as a minor league hitting coordinator for the New York Yankees in 2018.
Also with the University of Missouri connection is Joe Migliaccio, who is entering his third year as a Yankee minor league hitting coach. He has nothing but good things to say about Lawson. In an interview with Pinstripe Alley, Migliaccio said, “he is known for using tech resources to spot what’s working and what’s not, and makes sure the hitter understands his message. Additionally, he is not about to teach something that hasn’t been proved.”
Lawson is a progressive hitting coach who is very careful in giving information passed on to the players. He has already proven that his methodology and philosophy have worked for the Yankees in the minor leagues. Yankee prospects Anthony Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Trey Amburgey, among others, all had their hitting abilities advanced under Lawson. As a result, the Yankee minor league teams all had great years last season. Now the Yankee front office has elevated Lawson to be their hitting coach in 2022, hoping for similar results.
When manager Aaron Boone announced the new 2022 season coaches, he expressed his excitement to be able two work with Lawson. “He’s kind of earned this opportunity based on the quality of work we’ve seen from him and the impact we’ve seen him have on hitters.”