The Tampa Bay Rays have fired hitting coach Derek Shelton and replaced him with minor league hitting instructor Chad Mottola.
The Rays are 22nd in Major League Baseball in runs scored, 27th in batting average and 16th in OPS. They are last in the AL Central, 18.5 games out of first place. Since making the playoffs in 2013, they have back-to-back fourth-place finishes.
The 46-year-old Shelton has been the Rays hitting coach since 2009.