Waves Alumni Chris Hess Hired by Miami Dolphins

WAKEFIELD, RI - Rhode Island native, Christopher Hess, was just hired as an Assistant Hitting Coach with the Miami Marlins. Following a short playing stint and well-established career in the minor leagues, Hess finally got the call to join the pros down in the 305.  

A 2013 graduate of North Kingstown High School, Hess had committed to continue his collegiate career with the University of Rhode Island Rams, just a fifteen minute drive from his childhood home. Early on, Hess made an impact at the collegiate level. 

In his rookie season with the Rams’, Hess was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2015, and holds notable program titles to this day – program leader in triples (19), and his 142 runs scored are the 10th-most scored in any Rams’ career to date. 

Following his sophomore year, Hess played summer ball in his hometown, with the Ocean State Waves in the summer of 2016. In his time, he participated in a variety of community events, like school reading days, town parades, and volunteered time with local non-profits. 

Prior to joining the Waves, Hess was a critical piece in the Rams’ 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship victory, and helped the Rams to their first NCAA tournament berth since 2005. This success carried through his career with the Waves, where he continued to impress across the NECBL, finishing the summer batting a .279, two home runs, 17 runs scored, and 20 RBIs. 

Hess returned to the Waves in 2017 where he appeared in just five games before getting the call that changed his life forever. After an impressive collegiate career, Hess was a 17th-round selection of the New York Yankees in the 2018 MLB Draft, and in three years in the Yankees’ minor league system, he reached as far as High-A. 

At the conclusion of his playing career, Hess returned to his alma mater to be an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island.

In 2021, Hess got his first professional job with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, a Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. He then relocated to the Portland Sea Dogs, a Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, where he spent the 2022 season, and returned for the ‘24 and ‘25 seasons as the primary hitting coach. 

Hess spent the 2023 season with the Greenville Drive, a High-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the team ranked first in batting average, hits, and doubles, second in triples, and third in RBI’s in the South Atlantic League, in addition to a League title to close out the year. 

During Hess’ time with the Sea Dogs in 2024, he led his team to lead the division in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.