Here a Coach, There a Coach, Everywhere a Coach

BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher

Not so long ago, a baseball manager only had a handful of coaches to assist him. … That’s definitely not the case anymore.

Most teams now average around 10 coaches – about double the number in the 1980s. Today’s major league teams’ plethora of coaches include the typical bench coaches, hitting coaches, pitching coaches, bullpen coaches and first- and third-base coaches. In addition, to the traditional coaches, now many teams have more exotic ones including: Hitting strategy coaches, pitching strategy coaches, infield coaches, game-planning coaches, offensive coaches and quality control coaches.

There are coaches for this. Coaches for that. Coaches for almost everything. It’s surprising there aren’t any expectorant coaches to assist players with improving their spitting techniques.

Among the dozens of former major leaguers who currently serve as coaches, here are 22 of the more prominent names:

Kevin Seitzer ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ SEATTLE MARINERS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ HITTING COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1986-97) – In 1987, Kevin Seitzer hit .323 and led the American League in hits with 207. That same year he had 33 doubles and scored 105 runs. The Kansas City Royals’ third baseman finished second in “Rookie of the Year” voting in ’87 behind Oakland’s Mark McGwire.

~ Edgar Martinez

~ SEATTLE MARINERS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ SENIOR DIRECTOR, HITTING STRATEGY ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1987-2004) – Hall-of-Famer Edgar Martinez owns a .312 lifetime average. Over his career he also slammed 309 homers and had 1,261 RBIs – including six seasons of 100-plus. Martinez was a seven-time All-Star, won two batting titles and had a lifetime WAR (Wins Against Replacement) of 68.4. Primarily a Designated Hitter, he spent his entire major league playing career with the Seattle Mariners.

Walt Weiss ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ATLANTA BRAVES ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ BENCH COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1987-2000) – Walt Weiss was the A.L.’s “Rookie of the Year” in 1988. The shortstop’s best year was 1996 while with the Colorado Rockies. His career highs that year included: 146 hits, 89 runs scored, 48 RBIs and a .282 average. Weiss managed the Rockies for four years between 2013-16.

~ Chipper Jones

~ ATLANTA BRAVES ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ HITTING CONSULTANT ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1993-2012) – Chipper Jones was primarily a third baseman. He was named the National League MVP in 1999 and was an eight-time All-Star. In addition to a lifetime average of .303, the Atlanta Braves’ Hall-of-Famer had a WAR of 85.3, 2,726 hits, 1,623 RBIs, 1,619 runs scored, 468 home runs and 549 doubles during his career.

Eric Chavez ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ NEW YORK METS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ HITTING COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1998-2014) – While playing the hot corner for the Oakland Athletics, Eric Chavez won six consecutive Gold Gloves. He was also a pretty good hitter. During his career he belted 20-plus homers in seven straight seasons and had 100 or more RBIs four straight years. Chavez had career totals of 260 round-trippers and 902 RBIs.

~ Darnell Coles

~ WASHINGTON NATIONALS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ HITTING COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1983-95 & 97) – Darnell Coles’ best year was with the Detroit Tigers in 1986. That season he batted .273 with 142 hits, 20 homers, 30 doubles, 67 runs scored and 86 RBIs. In addition to his major career, he also played in Japan in 1996-97.

Pedro Guerrero ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ MIAMI MARLINS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ HITTING COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1978-92) – Pedro Guerrero owns a .300 lifetime average and topped 30 home runs three times. He was a five-time All-Star and finished in the top four in MVP voting four times. While with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit .333 in the 1981 World Series, with two homers and seven RBIs.

~ Rickie Weeks

~ MILWAUKEE BREWERS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ ASSOCIATE MANAGER ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2003-17) – Rickie Weeks’ best season at the plate was 2010 as the Milwaukee Brewers’ second baseman. That year, he hit 29 over the fence, had 83 RBIs, 32 doubles and scored 112 runs. He also led the National League in hit-by-pitches with 25.

Mike Napoli ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ CINCINNATI REDS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ MAJOR LEAGUE STAFF ASSISTANT ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2006-17) – Matt Napoli was a catcher-first baseman-DH who played for several A.L. clubs during his dozen years in the bigs. He blasted 20 or more home runs eight times, with 34 being his best in 2016. His only 100-RBI season was also in ’16 while with the Cleveland Indians.

~ Mark Prior

~ LOS ANGELES DODGERS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ PITCHING COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2002-06) – The Cubs’ Mark Prior’s pitching career was cut short due to injuries. Yet, he had one memorable year in 2003 and placed third in “Cy Young Award” votes. That year, the right-hander was 18-6, with 245 strikeouts in 211.1 innings and posted a 2.43 ERA. Prior also thrived in the post-season in ’03 with a 2.31 ERA over 23.1 innings.

Pat Burrell ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ HITTING COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2000-11) – Leftfielder Pat Burrell hit between 20-37 home runs nine times – winding up his career with 292 round-trippers. He twice topped 30 homers and 115+ RBIs in the same season (2002 and 2005 with the Phillies). In 12 seasons, he hit 299 doubles.

~ Matt Williams

~ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ THIRD BASE COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1987-2003) – Former big league slugger Matt Williams was a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman. He belted 30-plus home runs in six seasons and topped 100 RBIs four times. His best was: 43 HRs in 1994 with the Giants and 142 Ribbies with the Diamondbacks in 1999. He was the N.L. “Manager of the Year” in 2014, leading the Nationals to the playoffs.

Brad Ausmus ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ NEW YORK YANKEES ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ BENCH COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1993-2010) – Brad Ausmus won three Gold Gloves as a backstop for the Astros. He was a consistent – if only average – hitting catcher. A typical season at the plate was: 100 hits, 20 doubles, five homers, 45 RBIs, while hitting. 250. Between 2014-19, Ausmus was a big league manager for five years (four with the Tigers and one with the Angels).

~ Jason Varitek

~ BOSTON RED SOX ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ GAME PLANNING & RUN PREVENTION COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1997-2011) – Jason Varitek spent his entire major league career toiling behind the plate for the Red Sox. He was a three-time All-Star, topped 20 home runs three times and had 30 or more doubles in five seasons – finishing his career with 306.

Don Mattingly ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ TORONTO BLUE JAYS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ BENCH COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1982-95) – At various times Don Mattingly led the A.L. in hits (twice), doubles (three times) and won a batting title. The first-baseman also earned nine Gold Gloves, was a six-time All-Star and was named MVP in 1985. In his one (and only) post-season series, he hit .417. Mattingly played exclusively for the Yankees. He was N.L. “Manager of the Year” for the Marlins in 2020.

~ Sandy Alomar, Jr.

~ CLEVELAND GUARDIANS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ FIRST BASE COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1988-2007) – In 1990, catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr. was the American League “Rookie of the Year” for the Cleveland Indians. The six-time All-Star’s best year at the plate was 1997 when he pounded out 37 doubles, slammed 21 home runs, had 83 RBIs and posted a .324 average.

Juan Nieves ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ DETROIT TIGERS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ASSISTANT PITCHING COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1986-88) – The Milwaukee Brewers’ Juan Nieves’ time in the majors was a short three years because of a career-ending injury. His lifetime record as a hurler was 32-25, with a 4.71 ERA. A highlight of the southpaw’s brief stint in the big leagues was when he threw a no-hitter against the Orioles in 1987.

~ Marcus Thames

~ CHICAGO WHITE SOX ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ HITTING COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2002-11) – Marcus Thames was an outfielder playing mostly for the Detroit Tigers. He hit 25 or more home runs in two seasons – ending his career with 115. Thames played sporadically, only topping 100 games in two years … and owns .246 lifetime average.

Grady Sizemore ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ CHICAGO WHITE SOX ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 2004-15) – A Cleveland Indian for most of his career, centerfielder Grady Sizemore had 150 lifetime homers and swiped 143 bases. One of his best years was 2006 when he led the American League in doubles (53) and runs (134) and posted a career-best .290 average. Sizemore was a three-time All-Star.

~ Mike Maddux

~ TEXAS RANGERS ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ PITCHING COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1986-2000) – During his time in the majors, Mike Maddux was mostly a reliever and appeared in 472 games. He finished up with a 39-37 record and an ERA of 4.05. This is his 23rd season serving as a major league pitching coach for various teams. He’s the older brother of all-time great – and Hall of Fame – pitcher Greg Maddux.

Eric Young, Sr. ~

◼️ ◼️ ◼️ LOS ANGELES ANGELS ~
◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ THIRD BASE COACH ~

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1992-2006) – Second baseman Eric Young, Sr. played 1,730 games in the big leagues compiling a lifetime average of .283 – plus, he hit 327 doubles and stole 465 bases. His finest year was with the Rockies in 1996 when led the N.L. with a career-high 53 swipes. Young also had personal bests that year with 113 runs, 184 hits, 74 RBIs and a .324 average. His son, Eric Jr., is a Mariners’ coach.

~ Mike Redmond

~ COLORADO ROCKIES ◼️ ◼️ ◼️
~ BENCH COACH ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️

▶︎ STAT FACTS ▶︎ (MLB: 1998-2010) – Backstop Mike Redmond never appeared in more than 89 games in any of his 13 major league seasons. Yet, he compiled a .287 lifetime average in 2,264 at bats. In his first four years with the Minnesota Twins (2005-08), Redmond hit a collective .308. After his playing days were over, he managed the Miami Marlins from 2013-15.

“Put me in coach,
I’m ready to play …”

— John Fogerty
“Centerfield” (1986)

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