Lloyd McClendon is back as the Tigers’ hitting coach. The team announced Friday that Jim Leyland’s longtime assistant will reprise his old role under current skipper Brad Ausmus.
Meanwhile, Leon “Bull” Durham will get his long-awaited opportunity as a Major League coach. The longtime hitting coach at Triple-A Toledo is being promoted to serve as assistant hitting coach under McClendon.
The moves fill out the Tigers coaching staff for 2017. McClendon replaces Wally Joyner, who stepped down at season’s end to pursue other opportunities. Durham, meanwhile, replaces David Newhan, who spent the last two seasons as Joyner’s assistant.