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Blue Jays Hire Kevin Kiermaier As Special Assistant

By Nick Deeds | February 8, 2025 at 5:48pm CDT

Retired center fielder Kevin Kiermaier has joined the Blue Jays’ front office as a special assistant, as noted by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Kiermaier wrapped up his MLB career with the Dodgers this year after being traded by Toronto at the trade deadline, but played for the Blue Jays in each of the past two seasons after spending the bulk of his career with the Rays. Kiemaier’s role hasn’t been strictly defined, but he told Matheson that he pitched himself to the Jays as an “outfield whisperer.”

“Please, just trust me. Let me be a part of this. Let me bounce around,” Kiermaier told the club, as relayed by Matheson. “Let me offer my services here, from top to bottom in the organization. Let me show you what I can do. Let me be the outfield whisperer to these guys.”

It’s hard to argue with Kiermaier’s resume, which should make him very well-suited to a role coaching outfielders on defense all throughout the organization. The 34-year-old wasn’t drafted by the Rays until the 31st round of the 2010 draft, but worked his way through the organization on the back of his defensive prowess and went on to have a strong career in the majors that saw him earn four Gold Glove awards in center field and play in 12 MLB seasons. While he was a decent hitter who provided roughly league average offensive value, defense was Kiermaier’s calling card as he accumulated 26.7 fWAR and 36.5 bWAR throughout his career.

While he ultimately wound up with the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Kiermaier talked about serving as an outfield instructor for the Rays and one other team before reaching an agreement with Toronto on his new special assistant role. He expressed his excitement about his new role to Topkin, but made clear he has absolutely no plans to attempt to make a comeback as a player in any capacity.

“I’ve done light stuff at the gym, and my body still just doesn’t feel great,” Kiermaier said, as relayed by Topkin. “I’m like, there is just no way I could ever get through a season again. And I don’t want to. I went out the way I wanted to, and now I am focusing my sights elsewhere. So. I’m a happy man.”

Daulton Varsho is expected to be the club’s primary center fielder, and he’s grown into one of the top defensive outfielders in the game. With that being said, it’s certainly possible Kiermaier could help the club’s other outfielders reach a new level with the glove in a coaching role. Incoming slugger Anthony Santander as well as youngsters and less-established players like Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, and Joey Loperfido could all benefit from Kiermaier’s tutelage to say nothing of prospects further down the organizational ladder. A Florida native, Kiermaier is expected to be in Dunedin with the club during Spring Training before traveling around the club’s affiliates at various points throughout the season.

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Toronto Blue Jays Kevin Kiermaier

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View Comments (32)
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32 Comments

  1. C-Daddy

    4 months ago

    Ah yes, 30 year old youngster Nathan Lukes.

    3
    Reply
    • stevewpants

      4 months ago

      No Lukes!

      Reply
    • smuzqwpdmx

      4 months ago

      Lukes’ first year playing for Sac State was 10 years after graduated from there. Obviously a youngster.

      Reply
  2. Ducey

    4 months ago

    He is going to have to teach Schneider how to hit again.

    But an enthusiastic fella. Should be an asset for the farm system

    Reply
  3. Ted

    4 months ago

    Can he teach any of those guys to *hit*?

    1
    Reply
  4. HEHEHATE

    4 months ago

    You gotta pay the man to be the man

    2
    Reply
  5. Dustyslambchops23

    4 months ago

    Protecting the female fan base

    1
    Reply
  6. Dub12533

    4 months ago

    Kiermaier is getting a head start on the 51st State.

    1
    Reply
    • bestone

      4 months ago

      Yeah…probably getting out of Florida is a good move…unless you can pick citrus…

      4
      Reply
  7. Tom the ray fan

    4 months ago

    Ray hall of famer

    1
    Reply
  8. bestone

    4 months ago

    Seems like one of the good ones, with a Canadian-like work ethic.
    Welcome back!

    10
    Reply
  9. ❤️ MuteButton

    4 months ago

    Yeah he could probably help chant Jo-Jo-Jo-Joey Lo-per-fi-do

    3
    Reply
  10. Acoss1331

    4 months ago

    With 36 WAR, over 70 million in the bag and a World Series ring he can hang them up with a solid baseball career.

    11
    Reply
    • SHARKmapiro

      4 months ago

      And just think Ohtani makes $70m a year…

      1
      Reply
      • BetterMuppet:JUDGEorKERMIT?

        4 months ago

        Plus whatever he made gambling….wait, is that too soon

        3
        Reply
        • VegasMoved

          4 months ago

          Nah, just inaccurate.

          2
          Reply
  11. Niekro floater

    4 months ago

    Kiermeier was blue collar lunchpale player. Scrappy n a joy to watch in the field. Maybe he’s got half a season in em n he’ll get the itch again, only 34.

    2
    Reply
    • bestone

      4 months ago

      ….maybe he and Mr. Pillar can be the first two man outfield for the jays this year….

      1
      Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      4 months ago

      Meh, he’s no airplane

      Reply
  12. MeowMeow

    4 months ago

    Had the pleasure of watching Kiermeier man CF at Fenway during one of the games I got to last year. Getting to see him track down some balls in center in person was maybe the one positive of an otherwise ugly loss.

    1
    Reply
  13. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    4 months ago

    The guy runs straight into walls. He may be fearless but I think he’s banged his head a few times.

    Reply
  14. Dumpster Divin Theo

    4 months ago

    Careless whisperer

    Reply
  15. CTS4

    4 months ago

    What does Mattingly do ??…………

    Reply
  16. Jays_Jen

    4 months ago

    Class act move by the Jays trading him to the Dodgers last year amidst an absolutely lost season, giving KK a chance to (successfully) earn a ring. The fan base has to be thrilled to get him back! He is a perfect fit for this role.

    1
    Reply
  17. free agent

    4 months ago

    Kiermaier is not a Florida native. He is from Fort Wayne, IN where he won a HS state title with my alma mater.

    Reply
  18. darthdragula

    4 months ago

    Outfield whisperer? Is he in drugs? What the hell is he going to be whispering to these guys? Tips on how to crash into a wall at full speed and knock yourself out? Computer analysis pretty much tell the OFers where to position for each batter. After that it’s instincts and athletic ability. I don’t see how Kiermeyer is going to make any of Torontos OFers any better. Varsho is already elite. K.K was the best defensive and most exciting OFer I’ve seen in over 40 years of watching baseball but I wouldn’t want him trying to coach my guys into diving and crashing all out on every play. It worked for him but he missed a lot of games due to injury….you have to be smart about going full speed intona wall….you don’t do that innan 8 run game in May. I want my OFers to be judicious about that sort of thing and to stay healthy. Best ability is availability. On second thought….hire him and make him Springers personal coach. I’d like to see his bat out of the lineup as much as possible this year with the way he’s declining.

    Reply
    • DerekBellsMoistMoustache

      4 months ago

      Jesus christ, take a breath

      2
      Reply
    • walttoldmeto

      4 months ago

      Did you somehow not see Andruw Jones in the last 40 years

      1
      Reply
  19. BetterMuppet:JUDGEorKERMIT?

    4 months ago

    A lot of weird takes in the comment section on this one.

    End of the day one of the greatest defensive outfielders of all time is going to work as a defensive coach with the jays at spring training and then thur ought the lower levels.

    Wins all around here.

    He is not going to be in Toronto giving Santander daily tips.

    2
    Reply
  20. Sideline Redwine

    4 months ago

    missed opportunity for the Rays. The guy was a Rays fixture for years, perfectly reflected a focus on defense and speed, and was one of the best defensive CF’s I ever saw. Good for the Jays.

    Reply
  21. Bluejaysjunkie

    4 months ago

    The Jays need to trade for Luis Robert Jr.
    get rid of the crowded roster and take a flier on him.

    Reply
  22. BrisbaneGreg

    4 months ago

    This is just me testing to see if this works

    Reply

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