Mariners return all 6 Major League coaches, add 1
Oct 20, 2016, 1:57 PM | Updated: 2:09 pm
Scott Brosius spent 2016 as the Tacoma Rainiers hitting coach after a stint as Linfield College's head coach. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners have announced Scott Servais’ entire staff will be back in 2017, plus an additional member.
Bench coach Tim Bogar, hitting coach Edgar Martinez, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., third base coach Manny Acta, first base coach Casey Candaele and bullpen coach Mike Hampton will all retain their posts, while Chris Prieto will be back in a new role as special projects coach. Tacoma Rainiers hitting coach Scott Brosius joins the staff as assistant coach.
“Our coaches played a huge role in creating the culture, both on and off the field, that we enjoyed last season,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais in the press release. “I am pleased that all will return in 2017 as we continue to work toward our shared goal of winning a World Series in Seattle.”
Drayer: Philosophy changes made big difference in Mariners’ farm system
Brosius will coach at the big league level for the first time. Prior to his year as hitting coach with the Rainiers he spent eight seasons as head coach at his alma mater Linfield College in Oregon where he amassed a 270-96 record and won the 2013 NCAA Division III national title. With his children grown and and out of the house, he turned his focus to returning to the professional ranks last winter and eventually landed in the Mariners organization. Interestingly enough, he had no previous ties to Servais or general manager Jerry Dipoto.
“Baseball is all I ever wanted to do,” he explained on the Cactus League Report in March. “It was honestly just making phone calls. As I talked to different organizations, looking for a spot, a spot that felt right and was a good fit, it was an e-mail to Jerry when he took over as GM and asked if there was a position to meet and see if there was a place in the organization for me.”
The players clearly enjoyed working with Brosius, who stressed the relationship with the hitters as his priority as a coach. He spent most of September with the big league club assisting in different areas. An interview I had with him while the team was in Houston can be found here.
