ARLINGTON -- The Rangers will be looking for a new hitting coach after Anthony Iapoce informed the organization he is taking the same job with the Cubs.
The Rangers are allowing all their coaches to explore other opportunities while they conduct their search for a new manager. Interim manager Don Wakamatsu is expected to interview this week.
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The Rangers hired Iapoce from the Cubs. He was a special assistant in Chicago's player development system before joining Texas as hitting coach in 2016. Iapoce replaces Chili Davis, who was let go by the Cubs at the end of the season.
The Rangers were fourth in the American League with 765 runs scored in 2016 and fifth with 799 in 2017. But they scored just 737 runs this past season, seventh most in the league. The Rangers also set a club record with 1,493 strikeouts in 2017 and almost matched it with 1,484 strikeouts this season.
Iapoce shared the duties with Justin Mashore, who has already been informed by Texas that he won't be back next season. The Rangers' top Minor League hitting coaches this season were Howard Johnson at Triple-A Round Rock and Jason Hart at Double-A Frisco. Josue Perez served as the Minor League hitting coordinator and Dwayne Murphy was his assistant.
Rudy Jaramillo served as the Rangers' hitting coach from 1995-2009. Since then, Texas has had five hitting coaches in nine years.