SEATTLE (AP) - New Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu has finished his coaching staff for the 2009 season, hiring Alan Cockrell as hitting coach.
Cockrell spent the last two seasons as hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. The 46-year-old had spent his entire coaching career with the Rockies organization. He was hitting coach at Triple-A Colorado Springs for four years; the Rockies' roving hitting coordinator for two seasons; a minor league manager for two seasons; and a professional scout for one year.Cockrell was a career minor leaguer as a player, except for nine games with the Rockies in 1996. The outfielder was the ninth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 1984 draft after being a star at Tennessee.
