Astros name Alan Zinter assistant hitting coach
Club finalizes Major League coaching staff for the 2015 season
HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have hired Alan Zinter to be the club's assistant hitting coach, Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today.
Zinter, 46, spent the last three seasons as Cleveland's minor league hitting coordinator (2012-14) after serving as a hitting coach in Arizona's minor league system from 2008-11. A former first-round pick by the Mets in the 1989 draft (24th overall), Zinter played in parts of two Major League seasons with the Astros (2002) and Diamondbacks (2004), and spent a total of 19 seasons in the minor leagues (four with Houston). Zinter was born in El Paso, Texas, and comes to the Astros with 26 years of experience in professional baseball.
With the hiring of Zinter, the Astros have now completed their Major League coaching staff for the 2015 season. Joining newly-appointed Astros manager A.J. Hinch will be new additions Trey Hillman (bench coach), Dave Hudgens (hitting coach), Gary Pettis (third base coach), Rich Dauer (first base coach) and Zinter (assistant hitting coach), and returning staff members Brent Strom (pitching coach) and Craig Bjornson (bullpen coach).