The Nationals have announced a pair of moves to their coaching staff under interim skipper Miguel Cairo, promoting catching and strategy coach Henry Blanco to bench coach and adding Bob Henley to the staff as an MLB Field Coordinator.
Blanco, 53, takes over Cairo’s old role as bench coach in his eighth season in the organization; he was hired by previous skipper Dave Martinez a bullpen coach prior to the 2018 season, and transitioned into the catching and strategy coach after the 2021 season.
The 16-year MLB veteran, who played for 11 teams (but not the Nats/Expos) from 1997-2013, started his coaching career immediately after retiring in 2014, joining the Diamondbacks’ staff after being released at the end of spring training. He then spent 2015-17 with the Cubs as a Quality Assurance Coach before coming to DC.
Henley, 51, is an organizational lifer, having played all but one of his career games from 1993-2002, as well as his only MLB season, with the Expos before moving into the coaching ranks.
Since 2003, Henley has served as a manager at the lower levels, was a field coordinator of minor-league instruction, and served on various field staffs between 2013-21 before moving into a player development role.