Texas Rangers let go of former SF Giants hitting coach after slow offensive start

The Texas Rangers offensive is off to a rough start, so they decided to shake up the coaching staff. According to Robert Murray of FanSided, they let go of former SF Giants hitting coach and current offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker.

Texas Rangers let go of former SF Giants hitting coach after slow offensive start

The Rangers' offense has put up a .643 OPS so far in 2025. Only the Pittsburgh Pirates (.641 OPS), Chicago White Sox (.625 OPS), and Colorado Rockies (.620 OPS) have put up worse marks.

The Rockies have already parted ways with hitting coach Hensley Meulens, who had a long stint as a coach with the Giants. The tenure for a hitting coach can often be a short one. Once the lineup struggles, that coach is usually the first to go.

The change does not normally lead to material improvements, but it does allow for a new voice to take over.

Ecker joined the Giants as a hitting coach prior to the 2020 season. He came in under Gabe Kapler's staff, and there was some questions about his experience at the time of the hiring. Ecker had little formal experience as a hitting coach, but he had been well versed in the biomechanics that are needed to coach today's hitters.

While there was initial reluctance, Ecker proved to be an excellent fit. The Giants' lineup was one of the better ones in baseball in 2021. Surprisingly, they also blasted 241 home runs on the way to setting a franchise record of 107 wins.

Ecker's work with Giants hitters did not go unnoticed. After the 2021 campaign, he was recruited away to become the Rangers' bench coach and offensive coordinator. That was viewed as a promotion, as the bench coach tends to be a role that eventually leads to becoming a manager in many instances.

Since then, teams have had some interest in Ecker as a manager. The former Giants hitting coach was granted permission to interview for the White Sox managerial vacancy this past offseason. Heading into the season, Ecker's role had been shifted to focus solely on offense. The Rangers will now lean on a new voice, and the veteran hitting coach should have no problem finding a role with a new team.