Mariners closing in on new bench coach (source)
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The Mariners are filling out new manager Jason Kanzler’s coaching staff.
The team is in the process of hiring Tanner Swanson to be its next bench coach, a source tells MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. Swanson, a Washington state native who graduated from Central Washington University, was on the Yankees’ Major League staff from 2020-26. He had served as New York’s director of catching since 2020 and was also its Major League field coordinator since 2024.
The club has not confirmed the hire.
Under Swanson, the Yankees have led MLB in catcher framing runs since 2020 (+86) and rank 11th in blocks above average (+5).
Swanson will replace Manny Acta as Seattle’s bench coach. The Mariners parted ways with Acta and three other coaches from former manager Dan Wilson’s staff at the end of the regular season. They also let go infield coach Perry Hill, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and first-base coach Eric Young Jr.
CJ Gillman, who was Seattle’s Minor League hitting coordinator from 2022-25, will take over as the Mariners’ lead hitting coach, but the team has not confirmed the hire.