Padres Release Hitting Coach Phil Plantier

The Padres Wednesday have released hitting coach Phil Plantier following one of the worst hitting seasons in Padres history. June 2014 was statistically the worst combined team batting average in the modern era, hitting only .171 combined in the month of June. 

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Plantier was under contract through 2015 but is now the sixth hitting coach to be relieved of the position since Petco Park opened in 2004. Assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell is expected to remain with the Padres.

Per Corey Brock of MLB.com, Plantier could still serve in a different position within the organization.

Other hitting coaches that have been released include Dave Magadan, Merv Rettenmund, Wally Joyner, Jim Lefebvre and Randy Ready. All those coaches except Magadan have worked under Bud Black.

The Padres ranked 30th in the Majors in runs (535), hits (1,199), RBI (500), batting average (.226), on-base percentage (.292) and slugging percentage (.342) including being no-hit by San Francisco Giants Pitcher Tim Lincecum for the second year in a row and Padres were shutout 19 times this season. Injuries added to these dismal numbers so it’s not all completely on Plantier. It’s simply the annual scapegoat of poor Padres production.

Plantier played for the Padres in 1993-94, 1995 and 1997 and played baseball locally at Poway High School in San Diego.