Harkey back on staff as Yanks' bullpen coach

NEW YORK -- Mike Harkey is returning to manager Joe Girardi's coaching staff after a two-year absence when he served as the D-backs' pitching coach, the Yankees announced on Monday.

Harkey will reclaim his previous role as bullpen coach, with Tony Pena taking on the role of catching instructor in addition to his responsibilities as first-base coach.

The Yankees dismissed hitting coach Jeff Pentland and bullpen coach Gary Tuck after the season. Harkey was dismissed by the D-backs, who went 79-83 and had a staff ERA of 4.04, ninth in the National League.

Alan Cockrell, who served as the assistant hitting coach in 2015, has been promoted to assume the Yankees' hitting coach duties. Marcus Thames will serve as the assistant hitting coach.

Third-base coach Joe Espada, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Rob Thomson are each returning to the roles they served in 2015.