Yankees add another hitting coach to Aaron Boone's staff

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New York Yankees new manager Aaron Boone gestures during a baseball news conference Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at Yankee stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
New York Yankees new manager Aaron Boone gestures during a baseball news conference Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at Yankee stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

By Brendan Kuty

bkuty@njadvancemedia.com,

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

New Yankees manager 's coaching staff may finally be filled out.

P.J. Pilittere will join Marcus Thames as a Yankees hitting coach, a source confirmed to NJ Advance Media late Thursday night. WFAN's Suzyn Waldman first reported the news.

Pilittere, 36, was most recently the Yankees' Triple-A hitting coach. In 2016, he was the Double-A hitting coach.

He played eight seasons in the Yankees' minor leagues before turning to coaching. He topped out at Triple-A, where he hit just .263 with two homers in 72 games over three seasons. The Yankees drafted him in the 13th round in 2004 out of Cal-State Fullerton. 

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Here's how Boone's current coaching staff shakes out: bench coach Daniel Bard, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, first base coach Reggie Willits, third base coach Phil Nevin and infield coach Carlos Mendoza. Mike Harkey is also expected to return as the Yankees' bullpen coach.

Pilittere has extensive experience with some of the Yankees' youngest stars, including Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar.

Pilittere will replace Alan Cockrell on the staff. Cockrell had been aboard since 2015. Cockrell didn't immediately respond to a message from NJ Advance Media on Thursday.