The Rangers are hiring Donnie Ecker away from the Giants to serve as the new bench coach and offensive coordinator in Texas, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter). Ecker has spent the past two seasons as the hitting coach in San Francisco.
Ecker, 35, was a 22nd-round draft pick by the Rangers back in 2007 and spent a couple seasons as a second baseman in their system before moving onto a two-year stint on the independent circuit. Since calling it quits as a player, he’s coached in the college ranks, worked on the Cardinals’ player development staff and spent a couple of seasons in the Reds organization. With Cincinnati, Ecker was an assistant hitting coach on the Major League staff and the organization’s overall director of hitting.
As bench coach, Ecker will be stepping in to replace the recently dismissed Don Wakamatsu, who’d spent the past four seasons as bench coach in Texas. The Rangers also parted with hitting coach Luis Ortiz at the that same time, and while Ecker won’t be the team’s new hitting coach, his previous work in that role and the newly created title of offensive coordinator indicate that he’ll play a vital role in developing offensive philosophies and methodologies throughout the organization.
The Rangers still have not named a new hitting coach to replace Ortiz, but to this point it seems that both assistant hitting coach Callix Crabbe and minor league hitting coordinator Cody Atkinson are remaining in the organization. The addition of Ecker is one of multiple organizational changes the Rangers are set to make this winter. They’re also reportedly hiring Josh Bonifay away from the Phillies to serve as their new farm director.
Giants coaching staff is about to get poached left and right. Good thing they have like 45 coaches.
Lol
Offensive coordinator? That’s not a newly created title, that is stolen from football. And THAT is the problem. For decades, the NFL wanted to be as popular as baseball, but they never stooped as low as to try and copy them. They maintained their own identity. Now that MLB is in chase mode, everything they are changing is basically a direct steal from either the NFL or the NBA.
I don’t think any league is doing better then the next. They’ve all gone WOKE. Ratings have been on the steady decline for years.
I’ve quit the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAABB, PBA & Olympics. Oh lordy, I’m down to Cornhole, darts & knitting.
The Marlins made James Rowson their “offensive coordinator” two years ago. The Tigers hired a “defensive coordinator” back in 2013.
The Rangers’ decision to implement a broader title wasn’t influenced by a desire to chase the NFL in television ratings. The added title/responsibility just makes it a more clear promotion to allow them to interview/hire Ecker from another organization.
Teams have had “hitting coordinators,” “field coordinators,” and other coordinator positions for years now. That’s a whole lot to read into one title that isn’t even the first of its kind in MLB.
Well, to be honest I haven’t memorized every hire in MLB and their position title over the past decade. No one does other than sportswriters. Whether or not it has happened before in MLB is completely immaterial. It is still copying the NFL and taking away the unique MLB identity.
My point was not that this was the one instance that broke the camel’s back. My point is that MLB is slowly losing its identity because of the constant attempts to copy other leagues. The fact they they have been doing “for years now” only strengthens the argument.
With all due respect, this is just complaining to complain. It’s comical that you think this is “copying the NFL”. You can always stop watching if the new era of baseball bothers you…
After seeing in this year’s World Series taking out a pitcher in the fifth inning that is throwing a no hitter, I very seriously might stop watching. Haven’t watched the last two games at all. And with the DH coming to the NL, maybe it is time to find a new hobby.
Thank you for the suggestion. This might be the first time you have read this in your life, but you are a very helpful individual and you just made my life better. Have a nice day.
There are many aspects of the today’s game I find troubling. You aren’t alone in your thinking. I think the commissioner is an absolute joke, who 100 percent does not care about the quality of the game, but rather the profitability only. That being said, I don’t think teams creating new positions is robbing from other leagues. Teams have always had different titles for different coaches. The word coordinator makes it sound like football, but I guarantee it’s just another voice to feed a manager, who will ultimately make the decision. This isn’t a guy dictating how each at bat goes. Titles are mostly just that, titles. They make people feel better. I’m a salesman, but doesn’t sales coordinator sound better. I’m still full of shiz, whatever they call me. Hell, the POBO title was basically created within the last 10-15 years. The GM is rarely “in charge” of a team anymore. Sorry if I was Richard in my previous comment. I hope you keep watching baseball. I’ve been watching 35+ years now. I feel like a grumpy old man some days, but I’ll never stop watching. Have a good day sir.
When they start wearing full pads then we can talk ⚾️
Adios!
wow, a life changing comment. Right here in the comments.
I agree with you Steve. I have always heard that Bench Coaches are a stepping stone to becoming a Manager. Since the Giants Hitting Coaches, all three of them, did such a great job last season, it makes sense to give Ecker those added responsibility. The change in hitting philosophy for the Giants is system wide. So, it might mean a further change in the Rangers system.
You came up with this all by yourself? ⚾️
Why on earth would anyone want to hire someone from philly’s player development dept? Have they not seen how the rebuild went?
What the Ecker the Rangers doing?
Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle…
Gonna be more fun than a barrel of monkeys…
So hiring a guy away from Phillies organization, whose farm system sucks to be your new farm director is just dumb AF
So when he guides the Rangers batters facing the Yankee’s Luis Severino, will it be Ecks vs. Sever?
*que video of Michael Scott saying NO plz*
I find it interesting that no matter what is the story, some will find an opportunity to slam the current MLB. I’m no fan of Manfred and the current time it takes to play a game but what does that have to do with Ecker leaving the Giants. I believe Ecker should get a lot of credit for the resurgence of the veterans in SF. It will be interesting to see who replaces him.
Another wierdo like Gabe Kapler.Giants next year will finish in 3rd place or lower I guarantee you,They got lucky everybody had career years and no one will repeat.Kapler gets all the credit just wait and see.
Whew!
I was really worried but now that you’ve guaranteed it, I feel so much better now.
This is the last we hear from you; I guarantee it.
Bob333 – It’s comforting to know that a fan sitting at a laptop has all the answers, enough to make “guarantees.” At this point I see no reason to play the 2022 season. Let’s just watch Justin Bieber and “Friends” reruns.
I feel the same way about people who make predictions about who will be the playoffs next year. Start the ALDS and NLDS on April 1st. Why waste time with the playoffs? The Biebes is touring next year. He could sing the National Anthem. The cast of Friends could be dancing behind him. It would be epic. They could sing, “Take me out to the ballgame”.
This sucks. Giants have been hitting as well as ever since the Bonds era
Teams need someone to coordinate strikeouts and pop flys?
Huh? The 2021 Giants hit the most Home runs in their 140 year history. I think he does a bit more than that.