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The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted John Mabry to replace Mark McGwire as the club’s hitting coach, reports MLB.com:
OFFICIAL: @cardinals promote John Mabry to hitting coach, replacing Mark McGwire, who recently told club he will not return in 2013.
— MLB (@MLB) November 5, 2012
Mabry served as assistant hitting coach to McGwire for the 2012 season, his first coaching gig at the Major League level. A fourteen-year big league veteran, Mabry was lauded especially for his approach with the Cardinals’ bench players this season, helping them develop routines and the mental preparation necessary to succeed in their often spontaneous roles.
The Cardinals were prompted to find a new hitting coach last week when McGwire informed the club that he was leaving to take over as hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. An official announcement from the Dodgers is expected in the coming days.
A search for a new assistant hitting coach to replace Mabry is now underway as well.