Deron Johnson Returns to Angels to Serve as a Hitting Instructor

Deron Johnson, a former Angel batting coach who worked with Doug Rader when they were coaches with the Chicago White Sox in 1987, was named Angel hitting instructor by the new manager Wednesday.

The rest of Rader’s staff includes third base coach Moose Stubing, first base coach Bobby Knoop, pitching coach Marcel Lachemann, bullpen coach Joe Coleman and conditioning coach Jimmie Reese.

Johnson coached the Angel hitters in 1979-80, helping the ’79 club set 17 team records and score a major league-leading 866 runs. In 16 major league seasons, he hit more than 20 home runs 5 times and drove in more than 80 runs 6 times.

The Angels also announced that Duane Shaffer has been named special assignment scout. He served in a similar capacity with Oakland last season. Shaffer is one of six full- and part-time additions to the scouting staff.

Angel Notes

Outfielder Max Venable has been signed to a triple-A contract. Venable, who did not play in 1988, hit .270 in 116 games with Nashville, Cincinnati’s triple-A affiliate, in 1987. He had a .230 average in 9 major league seasons. . . . Nate Oliver was named to manage the team’s entry in the Arizona state rookie league.