The Mets are going to hire Kai Correa as their new bench coach, reports Pat Ragazzo of SI. He’ll replace John Gibbons, who held that job with the Mets for the past two seasons. Correa has been with the Guardians for the past two campaigns with the title of major league field coordinator, director of defense/strategy/baserunning.
Correa, 37, is a Hawaii native who is clearly respected around the game. After many years coaching in college ball, he was hired by the Guardians in 2018 to coach in the minors. Ahead of the 2020 season, he was hired by the Giants as bench coach and infield instructor.
Towards the end of the 2023 season, the Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler. Correa was tapped as the interim skipper for the final three games of the season. The Giants went 1-2 in those contests. Correa received an interview for that open managerial position going into 2024 but Bob Melvin got the gig. It was then that he returned to the Guardians, this time in a major league coaching role.
After a disappointing 2025 season, the Mets are making a number of coaching changes. One of the departed is Gibbons, with Correa stepping in to take over as manager Carlos Mendoza’s bench coach. It has also been reported today that Jeff Albert will join the staff to run the hitting department, with another hitting coach hire to come. Albert and that unknown other coach will replace outgoing hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
Cleveland is noted for their defense, so he certainly did a good job there. As bench coach, he might be able to help tighten up the Mets defense too.
I hope so. Those are areas of long-term weakness for the Mets. Cleveland, Toronto, and Milwaukee show what great defense and baserunning can add to winning.
if the Mets sign Alonso then help him make throws to 1st
..lol
I’d be surprised if they re-sign Alonso.
If they do, not sure anyone can cure whatever his throwing issue is.
Mets adding Correa is a smart move
So they finally get Correa.
Oh, wait, different one.
$314 million difference I think.
RobM: Duh.
Who?
Read the story.
Managed the Giants for the last three games of the 2023 season after they fired Kapler.
As it says in the story.
Siri, read me this mlbtr article.
He’s a good baseball guy. He was Kapler’s bench coach in SF. He’s the one who was able to develop and maintain rapport with the players and focus on fundamentals.
How to train like a big league infielder. Plenty of Kai doing fundamentals on YouTube.
Right on.
Mets are toxic. I think it will be shocking to him after san francisco and cleveland how miserable it is to live there and face that club house every day. Money isnt everything. His quality of life just took a significant hit.
Worry about your own quality of life.
follars: And you know this from the time you’ve spent in the clubhouse at Citi Field?
I dunno, man. For being “toxic”, the players sure do seem happy in that clubhouse.
That’s deep follies by follars.
Dollars you must be a Democrat
Actually, he sounds more like Trump trying to justify sending the military into American cities.
Agent Orange alert.
Yeah, those people that that mindlessly force politics into things and throat a spray-tanned wrinkled nut sack are the worst.
Remember when ted Cruz’s dog-faced wife’s father-in-law killed jfk?
Your mom must’ve been popping Tylenol like crazy while pregnant with you
A 37 year old hitting coach thats never played in the majors, just what we need. I’m sure players like Lindor, Soto, and Alonso will respect his opinions
And the trolls are abroad tonight! 🤣
“My career WAR eclipses yours!” Pete Alonso says as he tries to figure out how orient the binder. “What’s this nerd stuff?”. As Pete Alonso points to his name printed on the sheet.
Good thing Aaron Judge’s personal hitting coach was a 25-year vet MLB player… oh wait