NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- The New York Mets announced their complete coaching staff under manager Buck Showalter, including a mix of familiar and fresh faces.
Glenn Sherlock will become the team’s new bench coach, while former Silver Slugger Eric Chavez was officially announced as hitting coach after snatching him from the Yankees.
Wayne Kirby will be the first base coach and outfield/baserunning instructor, while Joey Cora becomes third base coach and infield instructor. Craig Bjornson was hired as bullpen coach, Jeremy Barnes was promoted to assistant hitting coach and Jeremy Hefner stayed on as pitching coach.
Sherlock, 61, is new to the role as bench coach, but spent three seasons with the team from 2017-2019 in roles including first and third base coach, as well as catching instructor. He returns to Queens after two seasons as a game-planning coach for the Pirates.
Sherlock has spent multiple seasons on a Showalter coaching staff with the Yankees and Diamondbacks.
Chavez, 44, is best known for his 13 seasons with the Oakland A’s, as well as two seasons each with the Yankees and Diamondbacks. He won six Gold Gloves and hit 260 home runs with a .268 average over his career.
Related
Chavez worked for three seasons in the Angels front office with Billy Eppler, the new general manager of the Mets. He comes over from the Yankees after being hired just weeks earlier as assistant hitting coach.
Hefner, 35, is back for his third season as the Mets’ pitching coach. The Mets’ pitching staff posted a 3.90 ERA in 2021.
Bjornson, 52, comes to lead New York’s bullpen after being Boston’s bullpen coach from 2018-2020, where he picked up a World Series ring. He was also the Astros bullpen coach in 2012 and 2014-2017, winning the World Series in his final season there.
Related
Barnes, 34, becomes assistant hitting coach after serving as director of player initiatives in Queens last season. From 2019-2020, he was the Astros’ minor league hitting coordinator. He had a seven-season minor league playing career.
The last name Cora will ring a few bells for a reason — Joey Cora, 57, is indeed the older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora. The elder Cora has been the third base/infield coach for the Pirates the last five seasons. He spent several seasons working under Ozzie Guillen, including as a base coach on the White Sox’s 2005 championship team.
Cora has also spent time in the Mets organization, coaching the Kingsport Mets minor league team in 2001-2002. Over his 11-year playing career, he held a .277 average and was an All-Star in 1997 with the Mariners.
Kirby, 57, spent eight season as a base coach under buck Showalter for the Orioles. He spent the last two seasons in the same role with the Padres. He appeared in just over 500 games in his eight-year playing career with the Guardians, Dodgers and Mets.
The Mets took their time filling out important personnel decisions, which they could afford with the lockout putting a halt on offseason player moves. When Showalter, Eppler and company could get back to making signings is unknown, along with when and if spring training could start.
Related
