Dodgers co-hitting coach Aaron Bates departs after contract impasse
The 42-year-old coach left the organization after 12 years following a failed agreement on new terms.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Aaron Bates will not coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2027. Andrew Friedman, the team's president of baseball operations, told reporters after the season concluded that the club did not expect major staff turnover. However, the departure of Bates, who served as co-hitting coach, represents a notable shift for the 2027 roster.
Bates left because he and the Dodgers could not agree on a new contract. Robert Van Scoyoc, the other hitting coach, is expected to remain in his position. The franchise has not publicly confirmed Bates' exit or announced a replacement candidate.
The team's offensive production was strong during the regular season. The Dodgers placed in the top two of the National League in batting average at .257, slugging percentage at .424, and on-base plus slugging percentage at .762. They also finished in the top four of Major League Baseball in runs scored with 801 total runs, marking the seventh straight year they achieved that ranking. The squad was named a finalist for the NL team Silver Slugger Award.
Postseason performance did not match the regular season results. The Dodgers hit .195 as a team with a .590 OPS during the playoffs. They averaged 3.1 runs per game in that span.
Bates is 42 years old. He was drafted out of North Carolina State University by the Boston Red Sox. He played in five major league games for Boston in 2009. After his playing career ended in 2014 with the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate, he began coaching. He spent the last 12 years in the Los Angeles organization. He moved to the major league staff in 2019 and took the co-hitting coach role alongside Van Scoyoc in 2023.
