FRESNO, CA - The San Francisco Giants announced today that Hensley Meulens has been named the team's Major League hitting coach. Meulens, better known to Fresno fans as "Bam Bam," spent the 2009 season as the hitting coach of the Grizzlies.Under his guidance this past season, the Grizzlies offense posted a.275 team batting average, sixth highest in the Pacific Coast League. Meulens also mentored two of the league's best hitters in John Bowker and Jesus Guzman, who posted marks of.342 and.321 respectively (Bowker won the PCL batting crown while Guzman finished fifth in the league in hitting). After the Triple-A season ended, he joined the Giants staff as an assistant in September.
The first major leaguer to ever come from Curacao, Meulens spent time as a coach in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization prior to joining the Grizzlies staff in 2009. His professional playing career included parts of five seasons with the New York Yankees (1989-1993) and three seasons in Japan (1994-1996). Able to speak five languages (English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento, and Japanese), "Bam Bam" replaces Carney Lansford on the Giants bench.
The coaching staff for the Grizzlies' 2010 season is expected to be announced in December.
The Fresno Grizzlies return to Chukchansi Park on Friday, April 16 for their home opener of the 2010 season. For information regarding 2010 season ticket, mini plan, and group packages, or the popular internet mini-series "I Hate The OffSeason", visit FresnoGrizzlies.com , or follow the team at Twitter.com/FresnoGrizzlies and Facebook.com/FresnoGrizzlies.
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