In a significant move, the Atlanta Braves are bringing Johnny Washington on board as their new minor league hitting coordinator, according to Sam Blum from The Athletic. At 41 years old, Washington arrives with two years of experience as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Washington is no stranger to coaching at high levels; he boasts three seasons as a hitting coach in the big leagues. His career includes a stint with the San Diego Padres in 2019, where he spent one season after serving four years in various capacities with the team. Following that, he ventured to South Korea to coach hitters for the Hanwha Eagles before rejoining affiliated baseball as an assistant with the Chicago Cubs. Two years later, he took up the hitting coach role in Los Angeles under manager Ron Washington, who, despite sharing a last name, is not related.
However, Washington's tenure with the Angels has come under scrutiny, as the team ranked a disappointing 27th in scoring over the past two seasons. While they excelled in power hitting—finishing fourth in MLB with a remarkable 226 home runs last year—their overall approach at the plate fell short. Among the league’s teams, they were one of only three—including the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies—to record an on-base percentage below .300 during the 2024-25 seasons. Additionally, the Angels had the highest strikeout rate last season, with only the Rockies having a higher strikeout incidence in the past two years.
Assessing a coach's effectiveness can be tricky, especially when considering the talent available on the roster. The Angels primarily featured a lineup filled with right-handed power hitters. Notably, Zach Neto has emerged as a reliable hitter, while Jo Adell has developed into a formidable power threat, albeit with a less impressive on-base percentage. Conversely, Logan O'Hoppe faced setbacks last year, failing to build on the offensive promise he showed in his first two seasons.
With the conclusion of the season, the Angels decided to part ways with Ron Washington. The newly appointed manager, Kurt Suzuki, has revamped the coaching staff, making a particularly intriguing choice for the hitting coach position. They have appointed Brady Anderson, a three-time All-Star, who has not been involved in affiliated baseball since 2020.
This hiring raises questions about the direction the Angels are taking—will this shift lead to improved performance at the plate? As fans of the game, what are your thoughts on this coaching change? Do you believe that Anderson will bring the necessary expertise to revive the Angels' offense, or will this be another misstep in the team's strategy? Share your opinions!
