Assistant hitting coach North not returning to Rays' MLB coaching staff in '26

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Rays will make one change to their Major League coaching staff after a second straight losing season, as the club announced Friday that Brady North will not return as assistant hitting coach next year.

North has been offered a different role within the Rays organization, according to the team, but he could leave if he lands a Major League job with another club. The 34-year-old spent the past four seasons as an assistant hitting coach under manager Kevin Cash, having been promoted from within to that role in November 2021.

“I’m appreciative of the hard work and commitment from Brady North throughout the last four seasons,” Cash said. “We wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

The rest of Tampa Bay’s big league staff is expected to return next season, unless someone is offered a promotion elsewhere.

That group includes bench coach Rodney Linares, hitting coach Chad Mottola, pitching coach Kyle Snyder, field coordinator/catching coach Tomas Francisco, first-base/outfield coach Michael Johns, third-base/infield coach Brady Williams, bullpen coach Jorge Moncada and assistant pitching/rehab coach Rick Knapp.

The Rays kept their entire coaching staff intact after an 80-82 finish in 2024, and the assistant hitting coach job appears to be the only change they’ll make after going 77-85 this year. The club will consider internal and external candidates for that position as they look for a new fit on the staff and a different voice for their hitters.

North, a local product whose No. 35 jersey is retired at Tampa’s Gaither High School, has spent his entire professional coaching career in the Rays organization. He joined the system as the Rookie-level GCL Rays’ hitting coach in 2019, was assigned to move up to Class A Advanced Charlotte before the 2020 season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic then guided a league-leading lineup for High-A Bowling Green in 2021.

The Rays finished 15th in the Majors in runs (714) this past season, up from 29th (604 runs) in 2024. Despite several key injuries, they hit .251/.313/.401 as a team and benefitted from big years by infielders Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz as well as solid debuts by rookie outfielders Chandler Simpson and Jake Mangum.

While it wasn’t enough to keep them in the postseason race, Rays hitters accomplished their Spring Training goal to improve with runners in scoring position, as they hit .266 in those situations this year after posting a historically poor .212 average with RISP in ’24.

Mottola is already the longest-tenured hitting coach in the Majors with his current team. Next year will be the 53-year-old’s 10th full season in that role.

If the Rays look to fill the assistant hitting coach position from within, they could consider Minor League hitting coordinators Will Bradley and Kyle Wilson, special assistant (and former Rays coach) Ozzie Timmons or upper-level hitting coaches Kenny Hook and Paul Rozzelle.