Owensboro native Brad Wilkerson is making a return to Major League Baseball — this time as a New York Yankee. Wilkerson will complete the pinstripes’ coaching staff, as it was announced he would become the team’s assistant hitting coach.
After an outstanding career at Apollo High School, Wilkerson played baseball collegiately at the University of Florida before becoming a first round pick of the Montreal Expos in the MLB Draft.
Wilkerson went on to play for eight years (2001-2008), suiting up for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays. In that time he hit 122 home runs, had 399 RBIs, and had a .247 career batting average.
Wilkerson went on to be the head coach at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, and then a USA Baseball Coach shortly after. The former Apollo Eagle has spent the last 3 years on the Jacksonville University staff — even helping them grab an ASUN Conference Championship in the 2020-21 season.
Wilkerson told mlb.com that he’s excited to lock in with New York’s lineup, hoping to help them improve physically and, more importantly, mentally.
“My future role with the Yankees is just being there for the hitters,” Wilkerson said. “It’s talking to them about baseball, about situational hitting and decisions, when they’re going to swing and why they’re going to swing. It’s just seeing the baseball and getting these guys right, more so mentally than physically, in a lot of ways. It’s just making sure their minds are clear and prepared each and every night.”
Wilkerson prided himself on being a patient hitter in his playing days, something he intends to stress just as much as swing mechanics at New York. While he may have been away from the major leagues for some time, Wilkerson told Bryan Hoch of mlb.com that he’s more than ready for this opportunity.
“I feel like I’m very prepared for this,” Wilkerson said. “Obviously I haven’t been in a big league dugout in a while, but I feel very confident in my skills to get these guys to relax, be themselves and get the most out of their ability.”
