The Seattle Mariners have not yet chosen a manager for next season, but the team has hired a hitting coach for whoever will be the new captain.
CJ Gillman is returning to the organization as the Mariners’ hitting coach, The Athletic reports. Gillman, 37, was the minor league hitting coordinator from 2022-25 before serving his final season as the Washington Nationals’ hitting director.
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Prior to joining the Marines, he was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Cincinnati Reds from 2020-21 and was an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy for five years.
In his previous role with the Mariners, Gillman worked with several of the team’s young players, including second baseman Cole Young, shortstop Colt Emerson, outfielder Lázaro Montes and most valuable player Michael Arroyo, according to the Seattle Times.
Last season, Seattle ranked last in the American League with a .233 team batting average and 27th with a .693 team OPS.
While the “hitting director” is more of a front office and development role, the Nationals are fourth on the team with a .744 OPS and 12th at .246. In the Triple-A affiliate of the Rochester Washington International League, he ranked fourth with a .264 team average and a .795 OPS. In Double-A, Harrisburg ranked in the top 10 of the Eastern Conference in both categories.
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The Mariners are expected to hire an assistant hitting coach to join Gillman.
The crew is about to hire a new manager
The Mariners are reportedly narrowing down their search for Houston Astros captain Joe Espada and Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler. Espada was allowed to talk to Seattle before being fired by the Astros.
Chicago White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven was also interviewed and former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was consulted, but both were not among the Mariners’ final candidates.
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Cleveland Cavaliers manager Stephen Vogt may also have been on the radar of the Mariners. Vogt was the team’s bullpen coach in 2023, but he has an agreement with Cleveland for next season and beyond. The length of the recent extension was not reported.
Additionally, Seattle wanted to compete with former Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, but withdrew due to family reasons, according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. Baldelli is now a special assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers.