Alan Zinter hired as Padres hitting coach

Alan Zinter, the Houston Astros’ assistant hitting coach last season, will be the Padres’ new hitting coach, a source confirmed.

While replacing Mark Kotsay, who last week was named the Oakland Athletics’ bench coach, Zinter reunites with new Padres manager Andy Green. The two were teammates on the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004.

Zinter, 47, was the Cleveland Indians’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2012-14 before coaching for the Astros. He was a hitting coach in the D-backs’ minor league system from 2008-11, originally hired by current Astros manager and former Padres assistant general manager A.J. Hinch.

Zinter’s playing career was an illustration of both perseverance and passion for…