Mariners name Edgar Martinez Major League hitting coach
Howard Johnson is re-assigned to minor league system.
SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that Edgar Martinez has been named as the Mariners Major League hitting coach. Martinez will be in uniform (#11) beginning today.
Howard Johnson, who had been serving in that role, has been re-assigned to the Mariners minor league system.
"Watching the club it had become apparent to me that we had reached the point that a change was necessary," Zduriencik said. "I appreciate Howard Johnson's professionalism and work ethic, but we simply were not getting the results that we expect and require.
"I have had the opportunity to observe Edgar over the past several years at Spring Training and working with our young hitters in the minor leagues. He is passionate and knowledgeable about hitting and understands the work that needs to be done to be successful as a big league hitter. His resume, desire to contribute at this time and ability to convey complex information about hitting is what drew us to this decision."
Martinez, 52, has spent the past several seasons working as a guest hitting instructor at Spring Training, and had an extended schedule during the season this year working in Seattle's minor league system.
Martinez had an 18-year Major League career, all with the Mariners. In 2,055 career games, he posted a lifetime slash-line of .312 batting average / .418 on-base percentage / .515 slugging percentage with 514 doubles, 15 triples, 309 home runs and 1.261 RBI.
Martinez won two AL Batting Titles (1992 & 1995), three AL On-Base Percentage Titles (1995, 1998 and 1999), five Silver Sluggers® (1992, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003 and five DH of the Year Awards (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 & 2001). Upon his retirement, Major League Baseball re-named the DH of the Year Award the Edgar Martinez Award. Martinez was enshrined in the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007.
Martinez is one of only 10 players in MLB history to have collected 300+ home runs, 500+ doubles, 1,000+ walks, a career .300+ average and a career on-base percentage over .400. He was the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2004.