Giants reportedly set to hire Blue Jays assistant Hunter Mense as hitting coach

SAN FRANCISCO — There was a clear theme as the Giants went through the draft and trade deadline this summer. Just about every single one of their additions on the position player side was known for putting the ball in play and having a good feel for the strike zone, and it appears there will now be a greater emphasis on that at the big-league level. The Giants are hiring Toronto Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense, The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon reported Wednesday, citing sources. Mense presumably would replace outgoing hitting coach Pat Burrell — who is being reassigned to another role in the organization — and work with assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard, who is staying, and likely one more addition on the hitting side. Burrell’s other assistant, Damon Minor, also had been told he wouldn’t be on Tony Vitello’s staff. Mense is coming off a run to the World Series in which the Blue Jays showed off a deep and relentless attack. During the regular season, they led the big leagues with a .265 average (the Giants hit .235) and ranked second-to-last with 1,099 strikeouts (the Giants have been over...