Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt will not return to that job in 2020, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told reporters including MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick (via Twitter). Honeycutt is expected to remain in the organization in a special assistant capacity.
The departure of Honeycutt from the staff of skipper Dave Roberts will not necessarily kick off a hiring search for a replacement. Bullpen coach Mark Prior appears to be in line for a promotion, Friedman indicated. There’ll be at least one new coaching staff opening regardless.
Honeycutt spent two decades in the majors as a sturdy starter and then reliever. He mirrored that longevity as a coach, running the Dodgers’ pitching operations for a remarkable 14 years. It seems that serious back issues and the rigors of the MLB schedule have combined to lead him to a more relaxed role in the organization.
Prior’s playing career was the opposite of Honeycutt’s — brilliant but excruciatingly fleeting. He tried for years to make it back from arm injuries but never did. Once he turned to teaching pitching, Prior quickly proved his merit. After a stint with the Padres organization, he spent the last two years as Honeycutt’s understudy.
Friedman also confirmed that Roberts will indeed be back as the manager — as had already been reported. Indeed, he expressed surprise that some had questioned whether Roberts would return after another exceptional regular season. The skipper’s job security became an issue after his confounding management of the team’s pitching resources in the recent NLDS Game 5 loss. But Friedman said that the organization still sees Roberts as an “additive part” of the club’s effort to capture an elusive World Series title.
Aww Rick was the best.
Amen! Yes, he has been a very good pitching coach.
*sees Kershaw blow another game in the playoffs*
Rick: “ight imma head out”
You have won the internet
You have a low bar…
Indeed
He been itching to use that “won the internet” line for days.
Very low. Everyone and their mother makes “Kershaw chokes” jokes.
I didn’t know “winning the internet” was still a thing.
Yes. I thought that phrase had seen its day similar to when Al Gore famously “invented the internet”.
The Dodgers may need to be expedient in their promotion of Mark Prior to their pitching coach position. I can envision Joe Girardi giving his former Cub batterymate a call for a similar role when he lands his next managerial post in the coming days or weeks. Girardi’s last season catching for the Cubs was also Prior’s rookie season in 2002. With Prior’s resume as a budding young pitching instructor it won’t be long before some organization comes calling, perhaps even the Cubs.
Interesting and insightful. Is Prior’s experience adequate to the task? What are the chances Girardi, if named the Cubs’ manager, might at least try to entice Larry Rothschild back to the North Side?
Zero. The Cubs are not going to allow the manager to pick all of his coaches, right or wrong. I do not see Rothschild as someone Theo and company would want anyway.
So, was this entirely Rick’s decision, or was he forced out?
The article strongly suggests that it was Rick Honeycutt’s decision because of his “serious back issues”. If he was “forced out” as pitching coach then it would be less likely he would remain with the Dodgers in a less grueling role, no?
Is his bad back the reason he never goes to the mound when a pitcher needs a talk or calming down? Not a fan here!
He nearly retired after 2018 but came back for one more season.
Hello Mark Prior
I never thought Honeycutt got near the recognition he deserved for being a great pitching coach.
He’s like the only pitching coach any casual fan can name.
The only one I really knew was Searage
As a life long Giants fan Honeycutt was a thorn in our side for countless years. One of the Best. Enjoy your retirement. I will
A backhanded complement but a complement nonetheless.
One of the best left handed relievers of all time. I bet you he could still give you a solid inning or two.
It would be one solid inning plus 4 batters and you end it with a Grand Slam meat ball, if Roberts was Honeycutts Mgr.
A.J. Ellis for bullpen coach.
That makes too much sense. However, he could also be assistant bench coach grooming for an eventual managerial shot.
This. Yes please.
This has been in the works for a while. When they brought Prior in it was to prepare to take over for Honey.
Rick’s had a good run with the Dodgers. It sucks that he’s leaving without a couple of well deserved rings, but he’s been a terrific coach for the Dodgers. Hopefully his understudy Mark has the same success Rick’s had over the years, and even though Rick will be in a office role maybe we can still bring home a championship for him, Tommy, and Vin.
They have 5 replacements ready for him. Like the team itself everything is interchangeable expect World Series Championships.
I wonder if he joins Tony L in Boston dunces there is a pitching coach opening, n I think he’s an amazing coach.
Honeycutt was an understudy of the Great Ron Perranoski. the post for the Dodgers is a very important role. if you look at the Dodgers Pitching over the last say 40 years… and compare it to the rest of the league. no one is even close. I like this move…. though i will miss seeing HOneycutt in the Dugout. he was on the 88 WS team. Rick… thank you…. 14 years