NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have hired Hensley Meulens as assistant hitting coach after the crosstown Mets poached Eric Chavez from the same position in January.
The Yankees announced the hiring Monday night. Meulens played for the franchise from 1989 to ’93 at the start of a seven-year major league career, then won three World Series titles over 10 seasons as a bench coach and hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants. His most recent big league job was as bench coach for the Mets in 2020.
The Yankees hired Chavez in November as one of two assistants to new hitting coach Dillon Lawson. But a few weeks later, the Mets hired away the 17-year big leaguer to be their primary hitting coach. The Yankees knew Chavez might take the promotion when they hired him.
The 54-year-old Meulens interviewed for the Yankees manager job in 2017, but the club gave the post to current manager Aaron Boone. His name has been mentioned in several manager searches across the major leagues since his success with the Giants.
A seven-year major league veteran from Curacao, Meulens managed Team Netherlands at the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics and also was on the coaching staff for the national team at the 2004 Olympics.
Meulens played first base, third base and the outfield during his MLB career. Nicknamed Bam Bam, he finished with a .220 career batting average with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.