Report: Todd Steverson to be hired as new hitting coach

After a season where the Chicago White Sox were last in the AL in OPS+ at 82, they are hoping that a new hitting coach can bring a little offensive magic from the Oakland A's. It is being reported on the White Sox website that the White Sox are hiring Todd Steverson as their new hitting coach.

Steverson has spent the last two seasons as the A's Minor League hitting coordinator.  Before that he's done just about everything but manage in the majors.  He started coaching in the St. Louis Cardinals system from 1999-2003. He joined the A's in 2004 and has managed and coached throughout their system.  He was also the A's first base coach from 2009-2010.  Prior to coaching, he played for seven years making it to the majors with the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres.  To top off his qualifications for the White Sox, he is Ron LeFlore's cousin.

Aside from his duties as the roving hitting instructor, we was also the interim manager of the Stockton Ports for a short time last season while the manager was on vacation.  His stint there became very controversial since he was banned from coaching during a game in the California League for a year after the following incident.

Steverson, Oakland’s roving hitting instructor, ordered Josh Whitaker, an outfielder and the second Ports’ position player to pitch that night, to commit balks to move Modesto runners into scoring position. Whitaker blatantly balked twice in the 17th, but the Nuts could not get the game-ending hit until the 18th, after another balk.