Mets adding Johnny Washington to staff as co-hitting coach (source)

NEW YORK -- The Mets finalized their Major League coaching staff this week with the hire of Johnny Washington, who will serve as co-hitting coach alongside incumbent Troy Snitker. A source confirmed the hire, which the team has not announced.

Washington, 42, spent this year as the Braves’ Minor League hitting coordinator, where he worked at all levels of the organization. Prior to that, Washington held roles in the Angels, Cubs, Padres and Dodgers organizations, working under Mets manager Andy Green -- then the manager of the Padres -- from 2017-19 in San Diego. Washington began as the club’s first-base coach in 2017 before taking over as hitting coach for the 2019 season. He also held the lead hitting coach job in Anaheim.

Along the way, Washington briefly crossed paths with current Mets players Jared Young in Chicago and Luis Torrens in San Diego. Before that, he worked as a hitting coach in Korea and was a farmhand of the Rangers and Dodgers for five seasons from 2003-09.

In Queens, Washington will again answer to Green, working alongside Snitker to improve a Mets’ lineup that finished tied for 23rd in OPS and tied for 20th in runs. Rafael Fernandez will also return to the Mets as an assistant hitting coach.

After this season, the Mets parted ways with director of hitting Jeff Albert after only one season. They decided to keep Snitker, who was also one year into his tenure.

The Mets have made two other small changes to Green’s coaching staff, promoting Mariano Duncan to the position of assistant coach and hiring A.J. Ellis as their Major League strategy coordinator. Ellis replaces Danny Barnes, the only other uniformed member of the Mets’ 2026 coaching staff who won’t return in ’27.

In addition to their coaching hires, the Mets continue to look for a farm director to replace Green, who vacated that role when he became their interim manager in June. They are also trying to beef up their Major League scouting staff.