Former Giants bench coach and interim manager Kai Correa is joining the Guardians’ coaching staff, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray and Jeff Young (X link). Correa’s specific role on staff isn’t yet known, but he has past ties to the organization, working as an infield coach and defensive coordinator for Cleveland’s complex league and short-season minor league teams in 2018-19.
From there, Correa joined the Giants as the bench coach and infield coordinator under new manager Gabe Kapler prior to the start of the 2020 campaign. When Kapler was fired late in the 2023 season, Correa stepped into managerial duties for San Francisco’s last three games. He interviewed for the full-time manager’s job after the season, but the Giants instead opted for an experienced skipper in Bob Melvin.
This led to an inevitable shakeup of the Giants’ staff, with a number of coaches (i.e. Bryan Price, Matt Williams, Pat Burrell, Ryan Christenson) with long histories with Melvin or with the San Francisco organization all coming aboard. In Christenson’s case, he took over the bench coach job, leaving Correa without a role.
The 35-year-old Correa joins former San Francisco staffmate Craig Albernaz on the Guardians’ staff, as Albernaz is moving from bullpen coach in San Francisco to a field coordinator role. New Guards manager Stephen Vogt also has some past Giants links, as he was reportedly a candidate for the Giants’ managerial role before the Padres officially let Melvin enter the picture. Vogt also played for the Giants during the 2019 season, just slightly predating both Correa and Albernaz’s time on staff.
Both the bench coach and third base coach roles are open in Cleveland, after the departures of DeMarlo Hale and Mike Sarbaugh. Those seem like obvious fits for Correa, though it is also possible he might take a less-traditional title of infield coordinator or defensive coordinator, as it seems probable that his infield coaching experience will again be part of his duties.
Giants’ coaching staff: Bai Correa
Guardians’ coaching staff: Hai Correa
Not the first time the Giants have said Bai Correa.
That was thigh Correa. Or ankle.
You’re right, they said bai to Kevin Correia about 15 years ago
First thing Correa should do upon joining the Guardians is breakout the WLM shirt.
Vogt should’ve been the A’s manager, but that makes too much sense. FU JOHN FISHER!!! Rot in helllllll!!!!
Did he touch your child or something? Just pick a new team, why should fandom be a death sentence? Weird.
Agreed. Weird indeed and inappropriate… BTW. Fisher is the right owner of the A’s so he can do pretty much what he wants with the Athletics. It’s time to move on!!!
You two have no empathy. I highly doubt you’d feel that way if your team was moving.
Not an A’s fan, but I feel horribly for that fan base. You should too.
Yeah so sad for A’s fans. Worst fanbase in all of sports. They buy the cheapest tickets possible and then flood down to the lower levels. People who actually purchase tickets have to fight with the entitled lowlifes for the right to sit in the seat that was paid for. Everyone parks for free in the Bart station across the tracks, and the fans only show up when the team is winning. It’s so sad that these terrible fans will now have to pay actual money to see a real team 20 minutes across the bay.
Indeed. They are not true fans of anything
Feeling for the A’s fan base, absolutely. But I think the point was that—as miserable an owner as apparently John Fisher is—wishing someone dead seems a bridge too far.
You’re saying the guy that randomly brought pedophilia into it then called the other person weird has no empathy? Say it aint so!
Hail to the victors
Kai Correa hahahaha Enjoy Spiders!
Thought he was a child at first glance.
Intense little unit. I didn’t mind his training videos. Nice to see him land somewhere.
Training Videos?? I am so out of the loop..
Giants marketing. Did a semi regular thing. Showing him taking guys through drills. There was one showing them trying to take a step out of Estrada moving wide right. That sort of stuff.
I was imagining 80s jazzercise lol
Kap did that one.
If you never have to hear him talk he is a great coach.
Last game when he was interim manager of giants he said he wanted “Crawford to have his flowers” like 8 times. Barf. Easy to forget he was in high school ranks directly before this.
I know what “have your flowers” means, but it would be kinda fun if he meant it literally. Like Crawford pursues botany or flower arrangement as a hobby
I was wrong about the high school ranks. But it’s even worse that it was believable.
Was this Vogt’s decision or the Guardians? Should be the former.
I heard that Correa has a side hustle where he models for people who design emojis.
Shoot, Kai was one of the few I wanted to keep. I truly believe SF should have man Donnie Ecker a huge offer(like, with a 1% ownership stake tho of offer) but with the requirement that Kai Correa remain as a bench coach. Give Donnie TWO bench coaches, doesn’t matter, just make it work. The Giants had the best infield defense with Kai Correa, especially in 2023, and the work Kai did with guys like LaMonte Wade, Thairo Estrada, Marco Luciano, Casey Schmitt, and above all, JD Davis, is close to as impressive as Donnie Eckers blood rituals that make his hitters go from .237/13HR to .267/26HR.
I understand Melvin is a safer pick, but Ecker would’ve been the “all in” strategy, and we’d better pray if Melvin doesn’t workout, that we can bring Ecker back. Whatever his secret was, it’s clear his own fellow hitting coaches don’t know. If I was entering a season with a possible Webb/Yamamoto/Imanaga/Cobb/Harrison/DeScalfani rotation, with Birdsong & others on their way up, I’d want the best offensive guy in baseball.
Barf. He also seems to be the second coming of Ron Washington, considering the Giants had Craw, JD Davis, Estrada, and a first time 1st baseman in Wade, it’s a true testament to his ability that the Giants had the best infield defense for 2023. JD Davis was seen throughout his career as a bad defender, but two and a half seasons with Correa and he looks like a GOOD defender.
Thairo is one that passed the eye test but sabr never loved his defense. Until 2023. LaMonte Wade became an above average defender at a position he never played regularly before.
A dude like that as a coach is something every team wants. Get used to Kai Correa, because he will be getting jobs for the next 30-40 years.