DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced earlier this week that they have relieved Hensley Meulens of his duties as hitting coach. Current Special Assistant to the General Manager and former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has been named hitting coach for the remainder of the season.

“This has been an incredibly frustrating and disappointing start to the season, especially offensively,” said General Manager Bill Schmidt. “While all of us share responsibility, I felt a change was necessary, and that a new voice was needed to give us the best chance to perform as we move forward in the season. Clint’s 30-plus years of baseball experience, especially over the past three-plus seasons working with our young players throughout the Minor Leagues, put him and our club in a place to be successful moving forward.

“I want to thank Hensley for his efforts over his two-plus seasons with the Rockies. He is a lifetime baseball-man who still has plenty to give the game of baseball.”

Hurdle returned to the Rockies organization as a special assistant prior to the 2022 season … in that role, he has worked across all areas of baseball operations, primarily in player development … managed the Rockies across parts of eight seasons from 2002-09 … his 1,159 games managed and 534 wins as a manager were both the most in franchise history before being surpassed by Bud Black in 2024 … led the Rockies to their lone World Series in 2007 … between stints with the Rockies, managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for nine seasons from 2011-19, compiling a 735-720 record … prior to becoming Rockies manager on April 26, 2002, served five-plus seasons as the club’s hitting coach under Don Baylor, Jim Leyland and Buddy Bell … prior to becoming the hitting coach in 1997, served as the club’s Minor League hitting instructor from 1994-96.