Having already profiled new bench coach and former Met player
John Gibbons, there are several other new faces on the Met coaching staff as the
team is in final preparations for the MLB season.
Remember that Gibbons comes to the Mets after 11 years over two stints as
manager of the Blue Jays (2004-08, 2013-18). His time in Toronto featured back-
to-back trips to the ALCS (2015 and 2016). Gibbons, who spent time as the bench
coach with Kansas City from 2009-11, has compiled a 793-789 record as an MLB
manager.
Former third base coach (and possible manager somewhere someday) Joey Cora
has departed for Detroit. The Mets coaching staff looks quite different from the
one that finished the 2023 season under the departed Buck Showalter.
New to the Mets
Manager Carlos Mendoza
So much has already been written about the 44-year-old Mendoza. He’s nearly 24
years younger than his predecessor so the clubhouse vibe and the way he
interacts with the players will be different. Very different. He’s been preparing for
this for many years including the past four seasons as Yankees bench coach.
Different is fine. How he manages to get the best out of Met players and the
team’s ultimate success, will determine how he’ll be judged.
First base coach Antoan Richardson
He’s got experience. The Bahamas native and 40-year-old, joins the Mets staff as
the first base coach after serving in the same role for the San Francisco Giants
from 2020-2023. Coaches need to be multi-faceted today and Richardson also led
the Giants baserunning and outfield instruction. Prior to his coaching career,
Richardson played professionally from 2005-2016 in a career that spanned 12
seasons and included 22 games at the major league level (nine with the Braves in
2011 and 13 with the Yankees in 2014).
Bullpen coach Jose Rosado
Interestingly Rosado (49) who hails from Jersey City, was the pitching coach of the
KBO’s Hanwha Eagles for the past three seasons. He also was a pitching coach in
the Yankees organization from 2011-2020 and was the coach of the Puerto Rican
national team for the past three World Baseball Classics. Rosado played in five
major league seasons (1996-2000) for the Kansas City Royals and was a two-time
American League All-Star (1997, 1999) after being selected by the club in the 12th
round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft. Rosado worked under Mendoza with
the Gulf Coast League Yankees.
Third base coach Mike Saurbaugh
Another local product from Queens, NY, Sarbaugh (56), comes over from
Cleveland where he was the third base coach for the past 10 seasons. He also has
been a minor league manager (nine seasons) sporting a 697-511 (.577) record.
Sarbaugh led the Columbus Clippers to International League and Triple-A
Championships in back-to-back seasons from 2010-11.
Returning Met coaches
Hitting coach Eric Chavez
This might seem a little strange since it might be seen as a demotion from having
been Buck Showalter’s bench coach in 2023. But the entire organization is high on
Chavez who will return to his role as hitting coach alongside Jeremy Barnes who
served in that capacity in 2023.
Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner
Returning for his fifth season as pitching coach, Hefner is held in high regard both
within the Mets organization as well as MLB circles.
Catching coach Glenn Sherlock
Sherlock (not the one you are thinking) returns for his second season as catching
coach for the team.
Strategy Coach Danny Barnes
A sort of ‘do-everything’ coach first hired under Buck Showalter, Barnes returns
and will be highly valued by manager Mendoza and the team.
New manager Carlos Mendoza has surrounded himself with an experienced team
of coaches that bring a wealth of outside (and inside) experience to the staff. This
season it will be interesting to watch how it all meshes together.
