The Texas Rangers have hired Donnie Ecker to be the team’s new bench coach and offensive coordinator, per multiple reports. Ecker, 35, was one of the Giants’ hitting coaches in 2020.
Ecker will be replacing Don Wakamatsu, who was the Rangers’ bench coach under Chris Woodward. He would also seem to be taking over the role that Alex Burg had in 2021 — Burg was the team’s “run production coordinator.” I would think he would potentially have some input in the hiring of a new hitting coach and assistant hitting coach, as well.
The Giants implemented a different way of doing batting practice in 2021, something Ecker was involved in, as they had hitters facing different machines throwing pitches at game velocity and with serious movement.