Ex-Hamilton aide Narron joins Angels' Triple-A team
Friend, chaperone during outfielder's return to stardom takes over as Salt Lake's hitting coach
ANAHEIM -- The Angels have hired Johnny Narron, Josh Hamilton's former accountability partner, to be the new hitting coach at Triple-A Salt Lake, an industry source confirmed on Wednesday.
Narron was dismissed after three seasons as the Brewers' Major League hitting coach in October, and he will now work under longtime Dodgers infielder and former Rangers coach Dave Anderson, who was recently hired to manage the Bees.
From 2007-11 -- starting when Hamilton made his triumphant return to baseball with the Reds, to his move to Texas, to winning the 2010 American League Most Valuable Player Award and reaching elite-level status -- Narron was by Hamilton's side as part friend, father figure and, in many ways, chaperone, to aid in the outfielder's return from drug and alcohol addiction.
Narron left his role -- with Hamilton's full support -- to join the Brewers in 2012, and Shayne Kelley took over for the next two seasons. Last year, Hamilton downsized the role of his accountability partner, having someone only on the road and never in the clubhouse as a member of the coaching staff.
Narron, who will be around Hamilton only in Spring Training next year, takes over for former Triple-A hitting coach Francisco Matos.