Mariners make two reported coaching hires official

The Seattle Mariners made two reported coaching hirings official Monday, announcing Tanner Swanson as the team’s new bench coach and CJ Gillman as its new hitting coach.

Report suggests what M’s could look for in Logan Gilbert trade

“I am excited to have Tanner and CJ join our coaching staff,” manager Jason Kanzler said in a release. “Both individuals bring an exceptional understanding of the game and skillsets that I am confident will help maximize the talent on our roster.”

Swanson, 44, comes to the Mariners with plenty of local ties after spending the past seven seasons with the New York Yankees, including the last three as their field coordinator and director catching.

A Roslyn native, Swanson attended Cle Elum-Roslyn High School before going on to play baseball at Green River College, Everett Community College and Central Washington University. He later taught and coached baseball at Sultan High School.

Swanson landed his first college coaching job as an assistant Everett Community College in 2009 before spending the 2010 season as an assistant at CWU. In 2011, took over as the head coach at Green River College. Then from 2013-17, he was a volunteer assistant coach for the UW Huskies.

Swanson served as the director of catching in all seven seasons during his time with the Yankees, which included helping Jose Trevino win his first Gold Glove and Platinum Glove in 2022. The Yankees were second in baseball in fielding run value from catchers during Swanson’s seven seasons, per Baseball Savant.

Swanson is also the son of legendary left-handed catcher Jim Swanson of the famed Portland Mavericks minor league team from the 1970s.

The 37-year-old Gillman is returning to the Mariners after spending 2026 as the director of hitting for the Washington Nationals. From 2022-25, he was the Mariners’ minor league hitting coordinator.

Gillman’s new gig in Seattle will be his first full-time role on a major league coaching staff.

Prior to his first stint with the Mariners, Gillman was the Cincinnati Reds’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2020-21. He also served the Air Force Academy baseball team’s head of recruiting from 2015-19 in addition to other roles.

Before starting his coaching career, Gillman played two seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas and two years at the University of Dayton. He also spent two years playing independent ball in the Frontier League.

The hirings of Swanson and Gillman fill two of the four coaching positions the Mariners had open after parting ways bench coach Manny Acta, infield coach Perry Hill, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and first base coach Eric Young Jr. The club has yet to announce new hirings for an infield coach and first base coach.

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