The Padres this offseason hired away the Astros’ assistant hitting coach, Alan Zinter, and made him their lead hitting coach.
The Astros turned around and hired the Padres’ former assistant hitting coach, Alonzo Powell, for the same role in Houston that Zinter vacated.
Powell, who turns 51 on Dec. 12, was the Padres’ assistant hitting coach for the past four seasons. This will be his 33rd year in pro ball, including 19 years as a player between the U.S. and Japan. He briefly played in the big leagues with the Expos (1987) and Mariners (1991).
“Zo brings a lot of passion and experience to our staff,” Astros manager A.