Braves reverse course, dump hitting coach Parrish

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves have fired hitting coach Larry Parrish after only one season.

The announcement Friday was a surprise, coming just one day after manager Fredi Gonzalez said his entire staff would return in 2012. As it turns out, everyone is returning but Parrish, who was dumped after the Braves ranked 13th in the league in hitting (.243) and 10th in runs.

Braves general manager Frank Wren also says there's no guarantee that Derek Lowe will have a spot in the rotation next season, even though the team still owes him $15 million on the final year of his contract. He lost 17 games with a 5.05 ERA.

On another issue, Wren says right field Jason Heyward will have to right to keep his job in spring training after a miserable season.