Reggie Willits

New York Yankees News: Yankees lose another coach

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The New York Yankees announced today that they are losing first base coach Reggie Willits whose contract is up in December. According to Lindsey Adler, Willits is leaving the organization to be a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. Willits spent his entire playing career in the outfield with the Los Angeles Angels.

The New York Yankees hired Willits in 2015 to be their outfield and baserunning coordinator. He was promoted to first base coach for the 2018 season, where he has served for the last four years. It is a bit surprising that he is leaving for a non-paying job as he is only 40 years old. However, he is returning home to Oklahoma, where he met his wife Amber in the sixth grade. They both attended the University of Oklahoma, where they were married. They have three children and live at the Double 7 Ranch. With Willits departure, he adds his name to three other coaches that will not be returning for the 2022 season.

Even before the end of the World Series, the New York Yankees have already made some significant changes to the staff. Hitting coach Marcus Thames will not be returning in 2022. Also, highly thought off third base coach Phil Nevin will also not have his contract renewed after a terrible mistake ushering Aaron Judge home and being called out by at least twelve feet. ESPN has also reported that Assistant Hitting Coach P. J. Pilittere’s contract will not have his contract renewed either.

It’s no secret that the Yankees had a darn awful hitting season going long stretches not hitting, and it appears that the Yankees hitting coaches are paying the price. During the offseason, the Yankee organization will have to develop a brand new hitting department that hopefully can correct that deficiency. With the departure of Willits, they will also be looking for a new first and third base coach. Stay tuned to EmpireSportsMedia.com for all the offseason Yankee activity as they look to put together another championship team.

New York Yankees: How many will be allowed to board the plane tonight?

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The New York Yankees potentially have big problems ahead. They already have seven staff members, and potentially Glyber Torres infected with Covid 19. And tonight, they all have to board a plane for Baltimore, where there will be no social distancing. It would seem obvious that some staff will have to remain in Tampa.

The New York Yankee players took a vote as to whether they should play or not on Tuesday night. They voted to play, and the Yankees won the game 3-1. Last night there was no vote; they played and shut out the Rays. Tonight with this situation getting worse, it could be a different story. Much depends on whether the questionable results from shortstop Glebyer Torres and if they come back as positive.

Regardless of the results or if they play the game tonight, it has to be concerning that they will have to be in close quarters on the Delta charter to Baltimore tonight. They will be held up in the plane’s cabin for a little over two hours.

What is most concerning is what we don’t know. What’s really going on, and what is causing these infections to spread so quickly among staff that has all been vaccinated, that should be approximately 94% protected from the virus.

The concern among the team is at various levels. In preparation for him taking the mound tonight, Jameson Taillon choose not to use the training room to do his workouts. Instead, he did his workouts far out in the right field while being masked.

Although this is unclear, this became a problem late Sunday and Monday. If anyone tested positive up to that point, it is unknown, but apparently, everyone was allowed to board the plane for the three-plus hour flight to Tampa, Florida. Tuesday morning, 3rd base coach Phil Nevins’s positive test became known. Within hours there were more positive tests, and as of this morning, that has increased to seven, including 1st base coach Reggie Willits, 3rd base coach Phil Nevin, and pitching coach Matt Blake and 4 other unnamed support staff.

If Gleyber Torres comes back positive, he would be the first player to contract the virus while in Tampa, which opens up a whole can of worms on whether the Yankees play tonight or not and how they will go forward. MLB may have something to say about that as well.

Stay with EmpireSportsMedia.com as this story develops.

 

Getting to Know Your Yankee First Base Coach: Reggie Willits

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Background:

Reggie Gene Willits (born May 30, 1981) is a former Major League outfielder. Willits was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2003. He played for the Angels for five seasons from 2006 through 2011. After the 2011 campaign, Willits was Designated for Assignment (DFA’d).

In 2013, after his Major League career had come to an end Willits became the head baseball coach for the Binger-Oney High School baseball team.

In 2015, Reggie Willits joined the New York Yankees‘ organization as their outfield and base-running coordinator. This season after the hiring of Aaron Boone as Manager, Willits was promoted to first base coach for the 2018 season.

First Base Coach ? What Does He Do ?

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According to the MLB.com Glossary the definition of what the First Base Coach is:
“The first-base coach stands in foul ground, just behind the first-base bag, and helps relay signals from the dugout to both batters and baserunners. First-base coaches often assist baserunners in picking the appropriate time to steal a base and alert baserunners as pitchers attempt to retire them via a pickoff throw. By rule, the first-base coach must stay within the designated coach’s box on the first-base side of home plate prior to each pitch. The coach may leave said box to signal a player once a ball is in play, provided the coach does not interfere with the play.”

What to Expect ?

Just prior to the Winter Meetings, the yankees acquired the reigning National League MVP in Giancarlo Stanton, adding another power hitter to an outfield that already had Aaron Judge. Willits was called upon as outfield coach to work with both Stanton and Judge on potentially playing Left Field in the Bronx. Left Field at Yankee Stadium is not an easy position no matter how easy Brett Gardner makes it look.

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As the First Base coach, Willits will help players when they get on first base in regards to taking leads on the base paths. He also guides them as to who to steal a base on and when to get back on a pickoff attempt. In Willits’ only full season as a player he had 27 steals in 35 attempts. The Yankees have a wealth of power but also some guys like Brett Gardner and Tyler Wade among others who will be called upon to swipe a base or two throughout the season. Willits is the man who they will turn to.