Mariners hire hitting coach Lamar Johnson

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners hired Lamar Johnson as hitting coach Friday, completing new manager Bob Melvin’s coaching staff.

The 52-year-old Johnson spent the past four seasons as hitting coach for Kansas City and four years before that in the same position with Milwaukee.

Johnson, who played seven seasons in the majors, had a .287 career average with 64 home runs and 381 RBIs. He played first base with the Chicago White Sox from 1974-81, and the Texas Rangers in 1982.

His best season was 1979 in Chicago, when he hit. 309 with 29 doubles, 12 homers and 74 RBIs.

Johnson managed at Single-A Stockton from 1993-94 after two seasons as hitting coach at Triple-A Denver in 1991-92. He began his coaching career as Milwaukee’s roving minor league hitting instructor from 1988-90.