Padres fire hitting coach Phil Plantier

The San Diego Padres have dismissed hitting coach Phil Plantier after he instructed the club to the worst offense in the majors this season.

Plantier, who just completed his third season in San Diego, was under contract through 2015. Assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell is expected to compete for the vacant position, according to general manager A.J. Preller.

The Padres ranked last in the majors in several offensive categories this year, including runs, average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. MLB.com's Corey Brock notes the Padres hit .171 in June - the lowest single-month mark in at least 100 years - and were shut out 19 times in 2014.

Plantier was the team's sixth hitting coach since spacious Petco Park opened in 2004.