Former Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell was hired as a hitting coach for the Class-A San Jose Giants, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Burrell, better known as “Pat the Bat,” returns to the organization in which he spent the final two seasons of his career, winning a World Series in 2010.
Burrell, 43, spent the previous season as an in-studio analyst for NBC Sports. After signing a one-day contract to retire with the Phillies in 2012, Burrell transitioned to a career in scouting. Pat the Bat served as a special scout for the Giants before taking the gig with NBC Sports.
In nine seasons with the Phillies, Burrell slugged .257/.367/.485 with 251 home runs and 827 RBIs. He is fourth among the Phillies all-time leaders in home runs and tenth in RBIs. In 2015, the Phillies honored Burrell with a nomination to the team’s Wall of Fame.
Interestingly enough, Burrell also reunites with former teammate Gabe Kapler as members of the Giants organization. The two played together in Tampa Bay during the 2009 season. As a High-A hitting coach, Burrell will also get the chance to work with some of the team’s top prospects, including 2019 first-round selection Hunter Bishop.