Washington Nationals: Meet the 2018 coaches
By Ron Juckett
KEVIN LONG — HITTING COACH
Perhaps the biggest name on the coaching roster, Kevin Long’s arrival from the New York Mets tickles Daniel Murphy a bright shade of pink.
A hitting guru for the Yankees during their last World Series win in 2009 and the Mets when they won the National League in 2015, much is expected. He is the coach who helped transform Murphy into a one-man wrecking crew against the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS. Launch angles and bat speed? He teaches it.
In 2007, Long’s Yankees scored a whopping 968 runs. Imagine what he can do with a healthy Adam Eaton and speedy Trea Turner.
The Nats set records the last two season in runs scored, but they became too reliant on home runs and big innings. If Long can help bring a consistent attack on offense, the less sleep NL pitchers get at night.
Do not underestimate what this means for Murphy. Remember, this is a contract year and Long as his hitting coach is an impressive carrot to dangle during negotiations.
Watch to see if Ryan Zimmerman stays out of those massive slumps. If Long can keep him hitting balls in the air, and not on the ground, the sky is the limit.