The Seattle Mariners haven’t chosen a manager for next season yet, but the team has hired a hitting coach for whomever will be the new skipper.
C.J. Gillman is returning to the organization as the Mariners’ hitting coach, The Athletic reports. Gillman, 37, was Seattle’s minor-league hitting coordinator from 2022-25 before working last season as the director of hitting for the Washington Nationals.
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Prior to joining the Mariners, he was a minor-league hitting coordinator for the Cincinnati Reds from 2020-21 and 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 hitters including second baseman Cole Young, shortstop Colt Emerson, outfielder Lázaro Montes and utilityman 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 “director of hitting” is more of a front-office and developmental role, the Nationals were fourth with a .744 team OPS and 12th in batting at .246. Washington’s Triple-A affiliate in Rochester led the International League with a .264 team average and ranked fourth with a .795 OPS. At Double-A, Harrisburg ranked in the Eastern League’s top 10 in both categories.
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The Mariners are expected to add an assistant hitting coach to work alongside Gillman.
The Mariners have reportedly narrowed down their managerial search to former Houston Astros skipper Joe Espada and Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler. Espada was allowed to interview for Seattle’s opening by the Astros before he was fired.
Chicago White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven was also interviewed and former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was under consideration, but both weren’t among the Mariners’ final candidates.
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Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt may also have been on the Mariners’ radar. Vogt was the team’s bullpen coach in 2023, but he’s under contract with Cleveland for next season and beyond. The length of his recent extension has not been reported.
Additionally, Seattle wanted to interview former Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, but he removed himself from consideration due to family reasons. according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. Baldelli is currently a special assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
