Chili Davis was rarely a leadoff hitter. Over 19 big-league seasons he batted at the top of the order in just 125 of 2,436 games.

Yet Davis is being asked to lead the reconstruction of the Boston Red Sox’s lineup. Over the weekend, several media sources reported that Davis will replace Greg Colbrunn as Boston’s hitting coach for the 2015 season. Colbrunn missed some of this past season after suffering from bleeding of the brain.

It’s often hard to gauge the impact a hitting coach has on a team. Colbrunn spent two years instructing Boston’s hitters. In 2013 the Sox led all of major league baseball in runs scored. In 2014, they were 18th. Go figure – same hitting coach, completely different outcome. You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger drop-off in virtually all hitting categories:

• Home runs: 178 in 2013 (6th in the majors); 123 in 2014 (22nd).

• Batting average: .277 in 2013 (2nd); .244 in 2014 (22nd).

• On-base percentage: .349 in 2013 (1st); .316 in 2014 (14th).

• Slugging percentage: .446 (1st) in 2013; .369 in 2014 (24th).

Davis isn’t expected to come in and single-handedly turn this offense around. He is expected to be part of an overhaul that will make the Red Sox more competitive in the coming year.

That overhaul will include rebuilding a pitching rotation that was ripped apart at the trade deadline last season, and a bullpen that faltered in the second half of the season.

Unless bench coach Torey Lovullo is lured away (he’s still in the hunt to become Minnesota’s next manager), Davis will be the only addition to the coaching staff at Fenway Park. The on-field changes will be far more important than any shuffling of the coaching staff.

Those moves are still weeks away. This move was taken care of quickly.

Davis spent 2011 as the hitting coach in Pawtucket, and is highly regarded by the organization. At the time, Dave Magadan was in his fifth season as Boston’s hitting coach, and Davis seemed to have no path to the big-league club. He left for Oakland and served as the A’s hitting coach for three seasons. The Red Sox were one of several teams interested in bringing him in as their new hitting coach.

It’s too early to know what type of lineup Davis will be working with. The Sox paid the price for relying on too many young prospects last season. Some of those prospects will be back. Some will be traded, while others will be in the minors. Those who return will be expected to contribute with a year of experience under their belt.

There are veterans with questions to answer as well. Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery in September and is out to prove his declining offensive numbers are related to health, not age. Mike Napoli battled injuries in 2014 as he saw his production decline. Allen Craig looked like a shell of the player he once was after being acquired from St. Louis. Shane Victorino missed virtually the entire season.

In other words, Davis has his work cut out for him. Which makes him a perfect fit for an organization that can say the same about itself.

Tom Caron is the studio host for Red Sox broadcast on NESN. His column appears in the Portland Press Herald on Tuesdays.