The Dodgers are moving on from hitting coach Aaron Bates, ending a run that stretched across 12 years in the organization.
According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Los Angeles offered Bates a multiyear deal to stay, but the sides couldn’t find common ground on a new contract. Bates had been expected to remain part of Dave Roberts’ staff, and Andrew Friedman had recently said the club was anticipating “status quo.”
“I expect status quo,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman answered when asked if there would be changes within the front office or coaching staff. “Still working through things, but expect status quo.”
At the time, any possible shakeup seemed tied to the managerial search in Seattle, where special advisor Rocco Baldelli had been mentioned as a candidate. Baldelli later removed himself from consideration, and the Mariners hired former Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler.
Bates’ departure leaves Robert Van Scoyoc as the Dodgers’ remaining hitting coach, though it’s not yet known whether the team will add another coach to preserve the co-hitting setup it has used since the 2023 season.
The change comes after a season in which Dodgers hitting coaches faced public criticism following the team’s sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. Even so, the offense stayed near the top of the league during the regular season.
Los Angeles finished second in batting average at .257, third in on-base percentage at .338, second in OPS at .762 and tied for seventh with 204 home runs. The Dodgers were also named a finalist for the National League team Silver Slugger Award, with Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy finalists at their respective positions.
Bates is the first coaching staff departure since Clayton McCullough left for the Miami Marlins’ managerial job ahead of the 2025 season.
His path with the Dodgers began in 2014, when he joined the organization as a Minor League player. He played in 11 games for Double-A Chattanooga that year, then moved into coaching in 2015. Bates spent three seasons as a Minor League hitting coach and coordinator before joining the big-league staff as an assistant hitting coach in 2019.
After four years in that role, he was elevated to hitting coach alongside Van Scoyoc in 2023 and held that post through this season.
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