Kevin Long (baseball)

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Kevin Long is the hitting coach for the New York Yankees. Long joined the Yankees after serving three years as the Hitting Coach with Triple-A Columbus (2004-'06).Before joining the Yankees organization he served as the Hitting Coach with the Triple-A Omaha Royals (2002-'03) and with the Double-A Wichita Wranglers (2000-'01). He was named the Northwest Leagues co-"Manager of the Year" after leading the Spokane Indians to the league title in 1999. He made his professional coaching debut at Class-A Wilmington Blue Rocks in 1997.

[edit] Personal

Long was a second-team All-American in 1989 at the University of Arizona and was also named first-team PAC-10 that year. A three-year letter-winner, Long still holds the Arizona record for most extra-base hits in a game (five) and ranks in the top-10 in several different statistical categories (second, extra-base hits; sixth, doubles; seventh, multi-hit games; eighth, total bases; ninth, runs scored). Graduated from Thunderbird High School in Phoenix, AZ. He resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with wife, Marcey, daughter, Britney and sons, Tracy and Jaron.

[edit] Playing career

He was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 31st round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft and played in their system for eight years from 1989-'96. Long led Class-A Eugene in 1989 in almost all offensive categories, including games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles and RBI. He also ranked eighth among all Northwest League hitters with his .312 batting average in his rookie season. He missed most of the 1994 season after undergoing surgery on his left wrist.