The first thing Clint Hurdle plans to do is ask the Rangers hitters a bunch of questions.

Hurdle, who was officially hired as the club's hitting coach Thursday, wants to sit down with each of his new hitters -- starting this week over the phone -- to find out what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are at the plate.

"I need to engage in communication with these men," Hurdle said. "I'm going to try to make this as seamless a transition as can be. I want them to paint me a picture of themselves. What do they bring to the table? What do they need to improve upon? Have they sold into a team concept as an offensive unit and that we can't just grip it and rip it? I know as a hitter, you can fall into that trap."

Hurdle said he'll look at video over the winter and continue to talk to scouts inside and outside the organization about each hitter. He will likely have a hitting camp or two this offseason to work with hitters in person before heading to Surprise, Ariz., for spring training.

General manager Jon Daniels said Hurdle's philosophy, which stressed a team-oriented approach, resonated with the staff as they interviewed the final four candidates. Hurdle worked with several members of the Rangers front office when they were in Colorado. And he coached with Ron Washington in the Mets organization in 1992. Washington was the third base coach and Hurdle the manager for Triple-A Tidewater.

Daniels said Hurdle, who interviewed earlier this week along with Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer and Gerald Perry, treats the job as more of an offensive coach, not just a hitting coach.

"You have to score one more run and it's not always about the hit," Hurdle said. "We want to really engrain into them a team-first mentality and the importance of responsibility of each at-bat. You have to trust the guy behind you that if you don't get pitches to hit, you take the walk. We want to be patient when we need to be. Patience shows a selfless attitude."

Hurdle knows he must establish a rapport with players that liked and respected Rudy Jaramillo, who was the hitting coach in Texas since 1995 until he signed a three-year deal with the Cubs last month.

"I'm going to capture their hearts and they have to buy into what I'm teaching," Hurdle said. "I don't know it all and I'm looking always looking for help. It will take time."

Hurdle made it clear that he's not coming to town to remake swings. He believes that each hitter that makes it to the big league level got there because the swing works. He's there to fine-tune and keep the mechanics working, along with developing the mental side of the game.

Hurdle is excited about what he has to work with in Texas.

"It's a unique combination of speed and power," Hurdle said. "What we like to add to that is consistency of approach. You have to maximize the quality of your at-bats. Only a handful of teams have the skill set this team has in place. We want to hone them, develop them and provide a format with them where we can find ways to manufacture runs."

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