Upon being hired as the Yankees’ hitting coach during the All-Star break, Sean Casey immediately set out to forge connections that would prove useful in his new role.
Casey learned, among other things, how quiet and reserved DJ LeMahieu is.
The veteran infielder was “so quiet,” as Casey put it.
Casey made an effort to capitalize on his twelve years in the major leagues.
He knows what his current team is going through because he has been there.
That brought up an epiphany rather quick.
LeMahieu was a senior in high school near Detroit when Casey played there for a season and a half in 2006 and 2007.
The Yankees lost 3-0 to the Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, and LeMahieu had both of his team’s hits. SuԀԀenly, Casey could relate to LeMahieu on a whole new level.
Before the game, Casey commented, “It’s so funny, I was talking to his dad after one of the games, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, we’re from Detroit,’ ” I told her, ‘No way, get out of here!’ That’s why I surprised [LeMahieu] by saying, “Dude, I didn’t know you were a Tigers fan” one day. ’06 Tigers, I was at a lot of those games,’ he exclaims. I was relating a few Jim Leyland anecdotes to him, and we were chatting back and forth.
That’s another [tie], I guess. Being a hitting coach, and life in general, boils down to a series of interpersonal interactions. Building rapport among the guys is essential for gaining their trust. That friendship with Detroit is very neat.
LeMahieu has benefitted from Casey’s leadership, and he is once again displaying the batting prowess that made him a star. LeMahieu entered Saturday with a slash line of.311/.423/.476 in 30 games after the All-Star break, compared to.220/.285/.357 in 76 games before the break.
This featured LeMahieu’s first multi-homer game since 2021 on Friday in the Yankees’ triumph against the Rays.
LeMahieu has helped Casey speed up his lower-body mechanics, but the approach has also involved his mind.
“I relate to [Casey] really well,” remarked LeMahieu. I love talking hitting with him because he was such a fantastic hitter.
Casey said he wаnted to let LeMahieu be LeMahieu because the 35-year-old bat is too good to remain in a slump indefinitely.
Casey, a career.302 hitter, once quipped, “One thing with great hitters is the back of the baseball card doesn’t lie.” DJ LeMahieu will not be dropping any bombs.210 for the whole year. If you see him at work, you’ll notice that he takes great care to tidy up the cages. There’s a rationale for everything he does. You can be sure that he will eventually receive the feels that he wants with a person who has won batting titles in both leagues.
To be there for DJ or any of these me𝚗 and earn their trust and let them know that you’re in it for them is the most important thing, Casey said. As a former player, I can sаy with confidence that I understand the situation. It’s been hard for me to get half. I’ve had both good and bad years in my life. I feel like my life has been quite normal. I’ve been there, and I know what it’s like when things aren’t going as planned. Simply having that connection has been beneficial.
Finding the opposing field is crucial since it gives DJ access to the pull side. Those are the habits of the best Һitters, in my opinion. Good Һitters know how to Һit to the opposite field. When you can accomplish it, your pull-side driving is much more effective.
Since the senior infielder still has three years and $45 million on his contract after this season, it is crucial for the Yankees to get LeMahieu back to hitting the level he is capable of.
Casey and the Yankees plan to reevaluate his future with the team at the end of the season, so it’s unclear if he’ll remain in his current role beyond this year.