New York Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey watches players warm up for a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 14, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Once more, the Yankees are in search of a batting coach.
Sean Casey announced Wednesday that he would not return to the Yankees’ coaching staff in 2024, citing family responsibilities.
Speaking on his podcast, “The Mayor’s Office,” Casey said he recently informed manager Aaron Boone of his decision.
“I just told him that I’m not going to be able to come back next year until 2027,” said Casey, the recently divorced father of two daughters, ages 13 and 17. “I just can’t imagine being away for eight months in New York while they’re here in Pittsburgh.”
Boone and some key Yankees players, including Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton, had advocated for Casey’s return as batting coach.
A former teammate of Boone and a .302 lifetime hitter in the big leagues, Casey replaced batting coach Dillon Lawson, who in July became the first coach or manager fired in-season during Brian Cashman’s 26 seasons as Yankees general manager.
On his podcast, Casey said the handful of months he spent as a Yankees coach was “one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. Being able to wear the pinstripes as actually a dream come true.”
Yankees assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Brad Wilkerson remain on staff.
“It was a tough decision for me,” Casey said. “There was no offer made (by the Yankees) but I do think I could have come back had I wanted to.
“That time right now is not perfect for me, but we’ll see what happens in the next few years here.”
