DENVER -- The Rockies, struggling offensively and carrying the Majors’ worst record at 3-15, replaced hitting coach Hensley Meulens with their former manager and long-ago hitting coach, Clint Hurdle, on Thursday.
“We haven't produced offensively,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said. “It's been a struggle so far. We’re looking to change the voice a little bit here with Clint. And I have nothing but respect for “Bam Bam” [Meulens], his work ethic and his knowledge as a baseball person. I wish him nothing but the best. We just needed to change direction a little bit with the offense to get it going.”
The Bud Black-managed squad, having gone quickly to prospects and inexperienced players, entered Thursday leading the National League in strikeouts with 195 and carrying the NL's fourth-lowest batting average at .220.
Meulens, 57, has been the Rockies’ hitting coach since 2022. The lineup has switched to younger players, but strikeouts have been a major issue. The club led the NL in the category in each of the past two seasons.
Before joining the Rockies, Meulens was a longtime hitting coach in the Majors, with his tenure highlighted by serving in the position for three World Series titles with the Giants under manager Bruce Bochy.
In steps Hurdle, 67, who managed the Rockies from 2002-09, going 534-625 in a stint that included one postseason appearance and a World Series trip in 2007. Hurdle was also the Rockies’ Minor League hitting coach (1994-96) and the Major League hitting coach (1997-2002) under managers Don Baylor, Jim Leyland and Buddy Bell.
In addition to his institutional knowledge, Hurdle has worked with the young roster. He rejoined the organization as a special assistant to Schmidt in December 2019, working almost exclusively with Minor Leaguers.
“It's been a struggle from day one with the strikeouts and the lack of production,” Schmidt said. “We think this move is going to help. Clint is the right person at the right time, with his knowledge with the majority of the position-player group here that he’s worked with in the Minor Leagues. There are just four or five guys he hasn’t been involved with.”
Hurdle was replaced as the Rockies’ manager by Jim Tracy in April 2009, then spent 2010 as the hitting coach for a Rangers team that advanced to the World Series. Hurdle then managed the Pirates from 2011-19 and took his team to the postseason in three straight seasons, beginning in 2013. The ‘13 team gave the Pirates their first postseason qualification since 1992.
Going into the season, Black and Schmidt felt the key for this roster was “growth,” and acknowledged that there would be a continued introduction of youth. But no one expected such a poor offense out of the gate. A series at San Diego in which the Rockies didn’t score in any of the three games put the team on the brink of a decision. The scoreless drought would reach a club-record 32 innings on Monday.
The club was more competitive while being swept at Dodger Stadium, losing by 5-3, 6-2 and 8-7 counts. The change was made with the club off on Thursday. Schmidt said he and Black are standing by their assessment that there will be growth in 2025.
Outfielder Zac Veen (the Rockies' No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and second baseman Adael Amador (Colorado's No. 7 prospect) have been called up to augment an offense that is more young than not. But of the three players with batting averages above .300, two are 34 years old -- infielder Kyle Farmer (.345) and outfielder Nick Martini (.325). Center fielder and future lynchpin Brenton Doyle (.315) is the other, but a quadriceps injury limited him to one at-bat during the 0-6 road trip.
Kris Bryant, the four-time All-Star Colorado signed for seven years and $182 million in 2022, is hitting .154 and, for the fourth year, is dealing with an injury. On Monday, he was placed on the 10-day injured list with lumbar degenerative disc disease, but the Rockies believe he can return when eligible.
Add to all that the fact second baseman Thairo Estrada, signed as a free agent, hasn’t played because of a fractured right wrist he sustained in Spring Training. Veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon went 1-for-21 on the road trip after hitting .381 with two homers during Colorado's six-game homestand, while shortstop and team leader Ezequiel Tovar has dealt with hip soreness throughout the season.
The team needs big performances from lower service-time players. It hasn’t happened.
First baseman Michael Toglia knocked a grand slam on Wednesday, but he also leads the Majors with 32 strikeouts. Catcher Hunter Goodman is tied with Doyle for the team lead with three homers, but is batting .222. Veen (.107 average) and Amador (.143 average) are learning that the Majors are different from Triple-A or Spring Training.
“Buddy’s done a good job -- it’s a tough situation going through right now,” Schmidt said. “I think he's been a positive influence. Our guys come to play hard every day, and that's what I'm looking at. As I said, I'm looking for the growth to continue to develop, and Buddy is the right person for that. Along with Clint helping [to] get this offense going in the right direction, I think good things are going to happen.”