SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants completed their coaching-staff overhaul Thursday by naming Rick Schu as their assistant hitting coach.
The appointment of Schu, 55, was atypical; unlike many coaches the Giants hire, he has no prior ties to the ballclub or the Bay Area.
He has, however, become adept at his craft. Schu has taught hitting for 20 seasons across the Major and Minor Leagues, including a banner year as the Nationals' hitting coach in 2017.
Last season, the Nats topped the National League in slugging percentage (.449) and OPS (.782), ranked third in runs scored (812), hits (1,477), doubles (311) and batting average (.266), and seventh in home runs (215).
Schu spent 12 years in the Diamondbacks' organization before going to Washington in 2013.
Primarily a third baseman during his playing career, Schu hit .246 with 41 home runs in 580 games for the Phillies, Orioles, Tigers, Angels and Expos from 1984-96. He also played in Japan for the Nippon Ham Fighters in '93 and '94.
Manager Bruce Bochy's 2018 coaching staff consists of Schu, bench coach Hensley Meulens, pitching coach Curt Young, hitting coach Alonzo Powell, third-base coach Ron Wotus, first-base coach Jose Alguacil, bullpen coach Matt Herges and Major League assistant and replay analyst Shawon Dunston.
Schu, Young, Powell and Herges are new to the staff. Alguacil is the only coach who has retained the same title he possessed last year.
Schu replaced Steve Decker, who was reassigned to a special assistant's role in the baseball operations department.