Twins hire James Rowson as hitting coach

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have hired James Rowson as their hitting coach.

Rowson was the minor league hitting coordinator for the New York Yankees for seven of the last nine seasons. Between stints, the 40-year-old Rowson was the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs for 1+ seasons after a midyear promotion from minor league hitting coordinator. Rowson worked at the minor league levels with the Los Angeles Angels prior to that after a minor league playing career with the Seattle Mariners and Yankees organizations.

With the Twins, Rowson will replace Tom Brunansky, who was let go by the club's new front office leadership after four seasons in the role. Joe Vavra, currently the team's bench coach under Paul Molitor, was the hitting coach for seven years before Brunansky was hired.

Also, Minnesota avoided arbitration with infielder Eduardo Escobar by agreeing to a guaranteed $2.6 million, one-year contract. The Twins declined to offer a contract to pitcher Yorman Landa, making the right-hander a free agent.