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Dante Bichette named new Colorado Rockies hitting coach

With Walt Weiss in the fold as manager, the Colorado Rockies announced Dante Bichette as the team's new hitting coach.

By kevinj114
Justin Edmonds

After Walt Weiss was named the new Colorado Rockies manager last week, another Rockies original has been named the team's new hitting instructor -- former Colorado slugger Dante Bichette. The team announced the move on Tuesday.

Bichette was listed along with Jason Giambi and Rene Lachemann as potential fits for the job by the Denver Post over the weekend.

Bichette was on the Rockies' first team in 1993, hitting 21 homers with a .310 average. He also holds the distinction of hitting the first home run in Rockies history, a solo shot against the New York Mets' Bret Saberhagen on April 7, 1993. Along with Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga and Vinny Castilla, Bichette helped form the Rockies' "Blake Street Bombers" through the mid-90s, a powerful lineup well-suited for the thin air of Coors Field.

Bichette's best season came in 1996, when he hit .313 with 31 homers, 31 stolen bases and 141 RBIs while also stealing 31 bases. One year earlier, he was runner-up to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin for the NL MVP award.