Tag: andy barkett

Red Sox Hire Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitting Coordinator and Hampden Native Peter Fatse to Be New Assistant Hitting Coach

The Red Sox have reportedly hired Minnesota Twins minor league hitting coordinator Peter Fatse to be their new assistant hitting coach, according to Zone Coverage’s Brandon Warne. The report was later confirmed by The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Fatse, 32, will take over for Andy Barkett, who was let go shortly after the conclusion of the 2019 season, and serve under hitting coach Tim Hyers.

Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as an infielder/outfielder out of the University of Connecticut in the 24th round of the 2009 amateur draft, Fatse spent all of two minor league seasons in the Brewers’ system before spending two more playing independent league ball and eventually retiring in 2012.

The Minnechaug High School graduate also has experience in consulting and coaching, and even founded and ran a hitting academy in Palmer, Ma. prior to joining the Twins organization this past January.

There did not appear to be many other names linked to Boston’s search for an assistant hitting coach and now the attention turns to the club’s pursuit of a pitching coach to join Alex Cora’s staff.

 

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Dana LeVangie out as Pitching Coach, Andy Barkett out as Assistant Hitting Coach as Red Sox Announce Coaching Staff Changes

The Red Sox announced changes to their coaching staff earlier Tuesday, and out of all the moves made, now-former pitching coach Dana LeVangie accepting a new role with the club as a pro scout probably stuck out the most.

LeVangie, 50, has been with the Sox since 1991, when he was selected in the 14th round of the amateur draft out of American International College in Springfield, Mass. that year.

Serving as a bullpen catcher, pro scout, advance scout, and bullpen coach in his time with Boston, the Whitman native was named Alex Cora’s pitching coach back in November of 2017 and oversaw a pitching staff that was one of the best in the American League en route to a 119-win season and historic World Series title in 2018.

2019 was a different story though, as the Red Sox finished with the ninth-worst team ERA (4.70) in the American League. Narrowing those numbers down to just the starting rotation, Boston ranked seventh in ERA (4.95), seventh, in fWAR (11.0), and eighth in innings pitched (806).

As difficult as it is to pin all these struggles on LeVangie, along with now-former assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister, someone had to take the fall. Bannister will also remain with Boston as vice president of pitching development, so it seems his role will primarily focus on aiding minor league pitchers in their development, as the above tweet mentions.

The news pertaining to Andy Barkett, meanwhile, was first reported last Wednesday and is now official.