JUSTIN: Rangers introduce Viele as new hitting coach and say goodbye to Tim Hyers!

Evan Grant reports from the Dallas Morning News that the Rangers will hire Justin Viele, who currently serves as a co-hitting coach for the Giants, to be their new hitting coach. Andrew Baggarly from The Athletic reported that despite being asked to return for the 2025 season, Viele was supposedly headed to join the Rangers with one year remaining on his contract.

Just hired by the Braves, experienced hitting coach Tim Hyers will be substituted by Viele, who will turn 34 later in the month. After coaching in college and minor league for the Orioles and Dodgers, he began his coaching career with the Giants in 2020. Viele and Rangers bench coach/offensive coordinator Donnie Eckers were both on the Giants’ coaching staff from 2020 to 2021. Viele, who used to play infield for Santa Clara University, spent a brief two-year period in the minor leagues after being chosen by the Orioles in 2013.

Additional alterations to the coaching staff are imminent for both Texas and San Francisco. The Rangers bid farewell to assistant manager Will Venable as he accepted a new managerial position with the White Sox yesterday. They will need to search for someone to take his place.

In addition, Baggarly noted that Giants assistant hitting coach Pedro Guerrero has discussed a potential job opening with the Marlins, who recently parted ways with their entire staff. His hiring has not been confirmed yet, but he is still being considered. Last season, the Giants added three hitting coaches: Viele, Guerrero, and former MLB slugger Pat Burrell. Due to Viele’s departure and the potential departure of Guerrero, San Francisco may bring in a new hitting coach to help with the workload.