Miami Marlins release hitting coaching Mike Pagliarulo

The Miami Marlins have announced they have released hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo. Jeff Livesey is being promoted to interim hitting coach.

The Miami Marlins have shaken up their coaching staff. The team announced on Friday that hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo has been released from the team per MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro and other sources. The Marlins are currently 5-15 this season and are in last place in the National League East.

Jeff Livesey takes over in an interim role, replacing Pagliarulo.

The Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Friday night at Marlins Park to snap a four-game losing streak.

Per Frisaro, the decision to make the change in Don Mattingly’s coaching staff came after the win at home. The Marlins are ranked last in MLB in runs scored and near the bottom of the league in several significant offensive categories.

"“It’s the unfortunate part of this job,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Friday. “It’s a results-oriented job. Offensively, we haven’t been getting it done. Just felt like it was time for change, and we made the change postgame tonight.”"

The lack of hitting was ever-present in the team’s series against the Chicago Cubs where the team scored two runs in three games and were was shutout twice during the three-game set. The lineup still lacks power in the middle of their lineup and have relied on a young pitching rotation to try and hold the opposition off the base pads.

The Marlins have been shut out five times this season and held to one run in four others. The team has 17 home runs this season, which is 25th in Major League Baseball. With Livesey taking over as hitting coach, now comes the transition of making a change and hoping it benefits the ballclub.

Pagliarulo was another former New York Yankees star who found his way to the Marlins. He was brought in three years ago to help the team and replaced Barry Bonds in the same capacity.

"“We just felt like a change was necessary,” Hill said. “I want to take the opportunity to thank Pags. He’s a tireless worker and has done a lot for the organization in two-plus years.”"

Even with the win on Friday night, the team only managed six hits for the evening. As a team, the ball club has scored 51 runs in 20 games, which is the fewest in the Majors. They are 27th in on-base percentage (.277) and 29th in slugging percentage (.326).