Amidst multiple firings to start the offseason, the New York Mets will hire Kai Correa as their new bench coach, according to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. In a subsequent decision, the organization will promote Jeff Albert to the director of their hitting development program. Albert is the Mets’ director of hitting development.
The signing came after John Gibbons resigned, and hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes were fired. Correa, 37, began his coaching career in 2018 after playing college baseball at Puget Sound in Washington State. In 2020, he joined the San Francisco Giants coaching staff under Gabe Kapler before spending his last two seasons as the Cleveland Guardians’ major league field coordinator.
According to Ragazzo, Correa also served as the Guardians’ director of defense, base running, and game strategy. The Guardians made the playoffs in the last two seasons by winning the AL Central. In 2024, they made it to the ALCS, which could’ve been due to Correa’s coaching experience.
On Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that Albert will be the head of the Mets’ hitting program. Passan noted Albert will be in uniform and in the dugout with the team. Albert joined the Mets coaching staff in 2022 after working in various roles with the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals.
Albert also served as the Cardinals’ hitting coach, helping infielder Paul Goldschmidt take home the National League MVP in 2022. That season, Goldschmidt hit 35 home runs, 115 RBI, and 41 doubles in 561 at-bats. Albert’s promotion can be a good sign for Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, who combined for 74 home runs and 191 RBI last season.
Mets Enter Offseason Amidst Multiple Firings
The Mets fired Chavez and Barnes, each with a year remaining on their contract. Amidst multiple firings, Gibbons resigned from his position, while New York parted ways with third base coach Mike Sarbaugh since his deal expires at the end of October, and they will not renew it.
“It’s time for a new adventure, see where baseball takes me,” Gibbons told the New York Post. “Time for a fresh face in that job.”
The Mets also parted ways with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who had been with the organization since 2020. He saw success in 2024 with Luis Severino and Sean Manaea on the team, but the same couldn’t be said for this season, where multiple members of the bullpen were either injured or declining.
Amidst multiple firings and new faces joining the team, the Mets must appoint new pitching, third base, hitting, and catching coaches by the start of next season.
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