4 updated hitting coach ideas for the Cardinals after Turner Ward's firing

These four candidates would all help the St. Louis Cardinals' sputtering offense in 2025.

St. Louis Cardinals v New York Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals v New York Yankees | Jim McIsaac/GettyImages
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Gary Pettis

Gary Pettis is a former player who became a coach after his playing career, as is the story for most coaches on an MLB staff. Pettis played for a decade from 1982 until 1992, and he won five Gold Gloves during his time in the league. He wasn't much of a hitter, but that doesn't mean he can't be a solid hitting coach.

After hanging up his cleats, he began a lengthy coaching career with the then-California Angels in 1995. Stints with the Chicago White Sox (1997-2002), New York Mets (2003-2004), and the Texas Rangers (2007-2014) ensued. What Pettis is most known for, however, would be his time with the Houston Astros since 2015. He was a part of two World Series teams in 2017 and 2022 while in Houston.

It was recently announced that the Astros would not renew Pettis's contract for the 2025 season, thus making him an available candidate. Pettis, 66, also served as a third base coach, baserunning coordinator, and an outfield coach in Houston. Under his leadership, the Astros led the league in wRC+ (112), slugging percentage (.441), and they've had the second-best OPS (.770) in baseball.

Pettis would be a great addition to the Cardinals' staff. He was instrumental in leading young players like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, and Yordan Alvarez in Houston, and his additional experience as an outfielder and baserunning coach would deepen the organization's coaching outreach. Additionally, Pettis is an outside voice, something the organization has been leaning towards since hiring Chaim Bloom last year.

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