Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates is on his way out after 12 years in the organization, according to MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes. Los Angeles had put a multi-year deal on the table to keep him, but the sides never landed on a final agreement.
Bates’ exit ends a long run that included World Series titles in 2020, 2024 and 2025. He’s been part of the Dodgers’ coaching setup since the club gave him his first shot behind the scenes in 2015, just after he wrapped up his playing career.
The 42-year-old’s path to that role was a winding one. Bates was a third-round pick by the Red Sox in 2006 and spent most of his nine-year playing career in the minors. He got a brief taste of the majors in 2009, going 4-for-11 with a walk in what turned out to be the only 12 plate appearances of his MLB career.
After that, he spent a couple of years in the Twins’ system, had a short stop with the Cardinals’ top affiliate, and then finished his playing days in the Dodgers organization. He appeared in just 11 games in L.A.’s system in 2014, but that brief stint opened the door to his coaching future.
From there, Bates moved up through the Dodgers’ player development ranks as a minor league hitting coach and coordinator before reaching the big league staff as an assistant hitting coach in 2019. Since 2023, he and Robert Van Scoyoc have shared the “hitting coach” title.
The Dodgers had appeared set to keep their staff intact, so Bates’ departure comes as a bit of a surprise. Van Scoyoc remains in place, but it’s not yet clear whether the club will replace Bates with another hitting coach or promote from within its minor league system. Either way, Bates’ eight-year run on a consistently successful Dodgers staff should make him a name to watch as he looks for his next opportunity.
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