Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmsus said this week that, during the 2016 season, he had a gut feeling Wally Joyner would not return as hitting coach.
Ausmus said during the MLB winter meetings in National Harbor, Md., that Joyner wants to continue coaching in a different capacity. David Newhan, the assistant hitting coach last season for the Tigers, was hired as the assistant hitting coach of the Los Angeles Angels.
Ausmus promoted two familiar faces from Triple-A Toledo to fill those roles. Lloyd McClendon came up at the end of last season to help hitters over the final month of the season after the Mud Hens' season ended.