The Mariners announced their coaching staff for the 2024 season. Most significantly, they added Brant Brown as bench coach and offensive coordinator. Seattle also hired Tommy Joseph as an assistant hitting coach and converted co-hitting coach Tony Arnerich to bullpen coach.
It was reported last month that Brown would be joining Seattle’s staff in some capacity. It wasn’t initially clear what role he would hold. Brown had worked as hitting coach for the Marlins a season ago. He left Skip Schumaker’s staff for the promotion in Seattle.
Brown had spent some time as a hitting coach with the Dodgers before joining Miami. Prior to his stint in Los Angeles, he’d been with Seattle as a minor league hitting coordinator. He returns to the Mariners, where he had worked from 2012-16, as Scott Servais’ top assistant.
With Brown stepping in as the lead hitting voice, Arnerich makes the transition to the relief corps. Seattle lost last year’s bullpen coach, Stephen Vogt, who took over as Guardians manager. It’s a bit of an odd transition for Arnerich to move from the offense to the pitching staff, but Seattle clearly wanted to keep him around in some capacity.
Jarret DeHart, who had been a co-hitting coach with Arnerich last season, remains in that role and holds the additional title of director of hitting strategy. They’re joined by Joseph, who has his first MLB coaching job.
The 32-year-old played two seasons in the big leagues, working as the Phillies primary first baseman between 2016-17. He hit .247/.297/.460 in Philadelphia. Joseph also spent a year in Korea and played parts of four Triple-A campaigns. He retired as a player after the 2020 season and immediately jumped into coaching. Joseph worked with the Mets for two years and spent ’23 as hitting coach for the Giants’ High-A affiliate.
As with DeHart, much of the 2023 staff returns. Pete Woodworth is back as pitching coach. Kristopher Negrón and Manny Acta will coach first and third base, respectively. Perry Hill is at infield coach. Trent Blank is the director of pitching strategy, while Carson Vitale is serving as field coordinator.
