The Red Sox announced their minor league coaching staffs and some changes in player development this afternoon. Most notably, the club has brought aboard Anthony Iapoce as senior hitting coordinator.
Iapoce has spent the past six years as a big league hitting coach. He worked in that capacity with the Rangers from 2016-18 before assuming the same role with the Cubs. The 48-year-old spent the next three seasons on Chicago’s North Side, but his contract was not renewed at the end of last season.
The Cubs had a middle-of-the-pack offense during Iapoce’s tenure. Chicago’s 101 team wRC+ between 2019-21 (excluding pitchers) checked in 16th of the league’s 30 clubs. They were 18th in that category (98 wRC+) last season, although Iapoce and the rest of the coaching staff obviously had to navigate the trade deadline departures of a few of the franchise’s most recognizable and productive players.
Boston also announced the hiring of longtime big league infielder Chad Tracy as the manager of their Triple-A affiliate in Worcester. The 41-year-old had spent the past seven seasons with the Angels, working both as a skipper in the low minors and as the club’s minor league field coordinator.