NEW YORK -- Over a dozen years playing in the big leagues, Sean Casey was heralded for his consistent production at the plate, as well as a genial nature that endeared him to teammates and earned the slugging first baseman one of baseball’s all-time nicknames.

The Yankees’ votes are in, and they have elected “The Mayor” to turn around a stagnant offense. The 49-year-old Casey is moving from the MLB Network studio to the dugout, having agreed to finish the season as the Bombers’ hitting coach.

“I don’t feel intimidated at all. I don’t feel like there’s going to be a learning curve,” Casey said. “I feel like I'm going to be ready to connect to some big league hitters. The biggest learning curve for me is going to be getting to understand maybe what their process is and getting to connect with that quickly.”

Casey, who has no previous coaching experience, has spent the past 15 seasons as a studio analyst for MLB Network. The choice echoes the hiring of Aaron Boone, who had never coached or managed at any level before being installed as manager prior to the 2018 season.

“I feel like that job at MLB Network has set me up in a way to be an incredible coach,” Casey said. “I’ve basically been coaching for 15 years every time I’m on air. I’m watching games and I’m having to break down players -- guys that are hot, guys that are struggling, what could they do.

“I feel like when I coach this team, there’s nothing that I don’t know about what the swing looks like from the ground up, what it looks like mentally to be a great big leaguer and to have success as a team up and down that lineup. MLB Network has made me so ready for this job, no doubt about it.”

As he prepares to make his debut on Friday at Colorado, Casey will look the part: he revealed that he has already shaved his goatee into a mustache, an homage to boyhood hero Don Mattingly.

Casey said that he and Boone began discussing a potential opening on the coaching staff this past weekend, and that Casey detected “a tone of seriousness” in Boone’s voice about it being a realistic possibility. Boone said that he has had “the great pleasure of knowing” Casey for close to 30 years, including their time together as teammates with the Reds from 1998-2003.

“His passion for hitting is infectious,” Boone said. “For anyone that’s ever come in contact with him, his ability to inspire is one of his greatest gifts, and I can’t wait for him to tap into our players and help them reach their potential. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will have a tremendous impact on our team.”

The Yankees had expressed interest in Casey this past offseason for the assistant hitting coach role that eventually went to Brad Wilkerson. Casey said that he could not accept the job at that time because his fiancée was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

When hitting coach Dillon Lawson was dismissed on Sunday, assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Wilkerson were assured of remaining in their current positions. Casey said that he has spoken with both, and that he “can’t wait to utilize their skills and everything they have to offer.”

Casey said that he has already spoken with several Yankees players at length, naming Aaron Judge, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, Anthony Volpe and Harrison Bader.

“Anyone who knows Sean knows he is a very well-respected former baseball player with a big personality full of positive energy,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “We feel his abilities to connect with people with his experience will serve him well in his new role as our head hitting coach.”

A three-time All-Star, Casey slashed .302/.367/.447 with 130 home runs and 735 RBIs for Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston from 1997-2008.

Casey is confident that he can improve the output of a Yankees offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (.231, tied for 28th), hits (690, 29th) and on-base percentage (.300, tied for 26th).

“One hundred percent. I've been there,” Casey said. “I know I'm going to be able to tap into these guys and get their talent out. We're too talented; this team is too talented. This team is loaded with professional hitters. I always think, the back of the baseball card doesn't lie. I feel like I'm the right guy to tap into these guys and get this cast hot in the second half.”