Dodgers hire former all-star Mark MgGwire as hitting coach

The LA Dodgers have hired their fourth hitting coach since 2008 but this one has ties to the LA area and a Hall of Fame pedigree if you can ignore a past scandal. The Dodgers have announced the hiring of Mark McGwire who served as the St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach last season.

McGwire, a 12-time All-Star, came out of seclusion to serve as former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa’s hitting coach in 2010 and stayed in St. Louis under Mike Mathenylast season.

The Cardinals had one of the National League’s best offenses under McGwire, and many have credited him for the emergence of young hitters such as Allen Craig, David Freese and Matt Carpenter.

The Dodgers are hoping for an upswing in their batting averages and on-base percentages. The team ranked 13th in runs and OPS last season while the Cardinals under McGwire’s watch have led the NL in batting average and on-base percentage.