Aside from bolstering the roster in both the pitching and hitting departments, the Yankees need to find themselves a new hitting coach for the 2024 season. After firing Dillon Lawson at the All-Star break during the 2023 season, they promptly hired one of Aaron Boone’s close friends, Sean Casey.
Casey was formally an analyst for the MLB Network, transitioning into a coaching role. After the All-Star break, the Yankees went 33–38, good for a .465 win percentage, recording a .221 batting average and .307 OBP. It was always optimistic that Casey would turn the entire team around, especially given the lack of talent they had with Aaron Judge missing a considerable amount of time.
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The Yankees Saw Some Good Progress Under Sean Casey’s Leadership
However, he did manage to make an impact on several players, notably DJ LeMahieu. Pre-All-Star break, LeMahieu hit .220 with a .285 OBP and .642 OPS. Post All-Star break, LeMahieu hit .273 with a .377 OBP, .432 slugging rate, and .809 OPS, hitting eight homers with 17 RBIs. He saw a significant increase in production once Casey joined, giving him plenty of credit in the process.
Clearly, Casey was able to impact a number of players positively, but after announcing his departure from the Yankees via his podcast, “The Mayors Office,” he cited family reasons for his decision. The Bombers will have a number of candidates to consider to fill the job, but Boone will likely target one of his close friends to help build more camaraderie and chemistry in the clubhouse.