John Valentin named assistant hitting coach for Dodgers

Former Boston Red Sox infielder John Valetin will be the new assistant hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Valentin was the hitting coach for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodgers' Triple A affiliate, last season.

Prior to being named the assistant hitting coach with the Dodgers, it had been rumored that Valetin might make a good fit with the Red Sox coaching staff. Valentin spent 10 of his 11 seasons as a player with the Red Sox as a shortstop, third baseman and second baseman. Valentin played in Boston from 1992 through 2001 and earned the Silver Slugger award with the Red Sox in 1995.

In Los Angeles, Valentin will be the assistant to Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire, who the Dodgers officially hired on Wednesday. McGwire spent the last three seasons as the hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers former hitting coach, Dave Hansen, was fired in October.

The Red Sox are still looking for a new hitting coach.