Home / Sports / Giants Tap New Hitting Guru Rowson
Giants Tap New Hitting Guru Rowson
13 Nov
Summary
- James Rowson named offensive coordinator, overseeing all hitting and baserunning.
- Rowson brings extensive hitting coach experience from Yankees and Twins.
- Focus on increasing walks, a key organizational emphasis for 2027.
The San Francisco Giants have appointed James Rowson as their new offensive coordinator, entrusting him with all hitting and baserunning initiatives. Rowson, 50, joins the organization after a three-season tenure as the hitting coach for the New York Yankees. His previous experience includes roles with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, as well as a bench coach position with the Miami Marlins. President of baseball operations Buster Posey emphasized the importance of hiring a leader with extensive experience, noting Rowson's strong reputation among peers.
The Giants struggled offensively last season, with injuries impacting key players like Matt Chapman and Willy Adames. The previous hitting coach, Hunter Mense, departed for the Kansas City Royals after one season. Rowson's arrival signals a renewed focus on offensive strategy. His prior success with the Yankees, who led MLB in home runs and runs scored in recent seasons, is noted. However, the Giants' immediate priority for 2027 is to increase their walk rate, having recorded the fewest in MLB in 2026. This focus on plate discipline is a critical aspect of the organization's future approach.
This leadership change extends to other coaching roles within the Giants. Frank Anderson has moved to a subordinate role under Justin Meccage on the pitching staff, and Christian Wonders will now oversee minor league pitchers. Taira Uematsu is set to become the new first base coach. Gary Pettis will continue as the third base coach and will lead baserunning instruction, another area where Rowson's expertise is expected to be beneficial as offensive coordinator.
The team had not anticipated significant changes to their offensive staff entering the offseason, but the departure of Hunter Mense prompted the search that led to Rowson's hiring. Rowson was considered an early favorite for the position, selected over several internal and external candidates. The organization plans to hire an additional hitting coach who will work under Rowson and assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard.
