DENVER (AP) - New Colorado manager Walt Weiss has talked fellow former Rockies player Dante Bichette into joining him in Denver as the team's hitting instructor.

Bichette was a four-time All-Star and played with Weiss in Colorado during the 1990s. He retired after the 2001 season with a career .299 batting average, 274 homers and 1,141 RBIs.

Bichette spent the last several years coaching his sons, including Dante Bichette Jr., a prospect in the New York Yankees' organization.

Weiss was hired as the Rockies' sixth manager last week, replacing Jim Tracy, who resigned in October after Colorado went 64-98, the worst record in the team's 19-year history.

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