Chili Davis is back in the majors. Only this time it's as a coach.
The Oakland Athletics announced on Saturday that Davis will serve as the team's hitting coach. He served as the hitting coach for the PawSox this past season.
Davis, who's also spent time as a hitting coach for the Australian National Baseball team and for the Los Angeles Dodgers instructional league, played 19 seasons in the bigs. He was selected to three All-Star Games and won three World Series titles.
Davis, who last played in 1999 with the Yankees, also spent time with the Giants, Angels, Twins and Royals. A career .274 hitter, the switch-hitting Davis blasted 350 home runs, including a career-high 30 with the Royals in 1997.
The hiring of Davis completes manager Bob Melvin's Oakland staff. Davis said he intends to get down to business right away in an effort to get to know his players.
"The biggest thing I've learned the last two years is the most important thing they look for is that you really care and you're going to be consistent with what you say to them and that you really are paying attention," Davis told ESPN.com.
Davis replaces Gerald Perry, whose contract wasn't renewed.
