Jeffery Glenn Branson (born January 26, 1967) is an American former

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

who is a

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

. He was the assistant hitting coach for the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

in 2013 and the hitting coach from 2014 until 2018. He is currently the hitting coach for the

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A Mud Hens team has played in ...

Early and personal life

Branson was born on January 26, 1967, in

Waynesboro, Mississippi Waynesboro is a city in Wayne County, Mississippi, Wayne County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,043 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County. Geography Waynesboro is located at (31.674026, -88.643553), just east ...

. He is an alumnus of Southern Choctaw High School in

Silas, Alabama Silas is a town in Choctaw County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 377. The town was struck by a tornado on March 17, 2021. The tornado downed trees and inflicted minor damage to outbuildings and homes at EF1&nbs ...

, and the

University of West Alabama The University of West Alabama (UWA) is a public university in Livingston, Alabama. Founded in 1835, the school began as a church-supported school for young women called Livingston Female Academy. The original Board of Trustees of Livingston F ...

. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1988 MLB amateur draft.

Career

Branson played for three different teams during his playing career: the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

(1992–1997),

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

(1997–1998), and

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...

(2000–2001). He made his Major League Baseball debut April 12, 1992 and played his final game October 6, 2001.

Coaching career

On November 18, 2013, Branson was named hitting coach of the

. He was previously the assistant hitting coach in 2013. He was relieved of this position on October 1, 2018.

External links

: 1967 births Living people Albuquerque Dukes players People from Waynesboro, Mississippi Baseball players from Mississippi Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Cedar Rapids Reds players Chattanooga Lookouts players Cincinnati Reds players Cleveland Indians players Indianapolis Indians players Las Vegas 51s players Los Angeles Dodgers players Major League Baseball hitting coaches Major League Baseball infielders Minor league baseball managers Nashville Sounds players Pittsburgh Pirates coaches West Alabama Tigers baseball players Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for the United States in baseball Olympic medalists in baseball Baseball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics {{US-baseball-third-baseman-stub