The Atlanta Braves have taken the first step in replacing former hitting coach Larry Parrish, who was notified that he will not be brought back to the club in 2012. ESPN's Bruce Levine reports that former White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker has interviewed for the Braves position:
Former Chicago White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker will interview for vacancies in the same role with the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres during the next week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Walker played 9 seasons in the majors (8 with White Sox, 1 with Baltimore) with a .260 career batting average and 113 home runs. In 1987, Walker posted a career high in home runs (27) and RBIs (94) with Chicago.
SB Nation's Braves Blog Talking Chop provided some commentary on Walker's interview:
Also, I know I've said that the Braves need to hire a hitting coach who will teach more patience at the plate, but simply going after someone named Walker doesn't necessarily guarantee a new approach. Of course, it's better than someone named Hack Wilson or Infield-Pop-Out Johnson.
Walker was born and raised in Douglas, Georgia.