Former single-season home run record-holder Mark McGwire will reportedly join the Los Angeles Dodgers as hitting coach after serving the past three seasons in the same capacity with the St. Louis Cardinals.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, McGwire will turn down the Cardinals’ offer of a contract extension to become a member of Don Mattingly’s staff in Los Angeles. The paper said geography is the main reason for the move, as McGwire and his family reside in Orange County, CA.
The 49-year-old McGwire, who became the first player to hit 70 homers in a season while with the Cardinals in 1998 but ultimately had his accomplishments tainted by revelations of steroid use, was named St. Louis’ hitting coach by former manager Tony La Russa prior to the 2010 campaign.
Under McGwire’s direction, the Cardinals led the National League in batting average (.273) and runs scored (762) during their run to the 2011 World Series title. St. Louis finished second in both categories while reaching the NLCS this past season.