Acta (bench), Seitzer (hitting) among coaches not returning to Mariners
SEATTLE -- The Mariners announced more sweeping changes to their coaching staff on Monday morning, on the heels of Dan Wilson’s conclusion as manager.
Bench coach Manny Acta, infield coach Perry Hill, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and first-base coach Eric Young Jr. will not return in 2027.
“I will always have the utmost respect and appreciation for these men, each of whom made meaningful contributions to our team,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “After much reflection, we have determined that significant changes are required as we look toward 2027 and beyond.”
Acta, who just finished his 11th season in Seattle, was the longest-tenured member of the staff, arriving with former manager Scott Servais ahead of the 2016 season. That coaching staff was the first assembled under Dipoto, too. He transitioned to a bench coach role under Wilson (2025-26), which was his second such stint (2018-19), but was also their third-base coach for two stints as well (2016-17, 2020-24).
Hill spent eight seasons on the staff, initially serving as first-base and infield coach from 2019-21 before fully transitioning to infield coach from 2022-26. Regarded as one of the best in the profession in his generation, Hill helped three Mariners infielders win Gold Glove Awards during his tenure, including shortstop J.P. Crawford (2020), first baseman Evan White (2020) and utility player Dylan Moore (2024).
Seitzer was hired ahead of the 2025 season -- along with assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes -- after their successful stints in Atlanta. They reported to director of hitting strategy Edgar Martinez, whose role moving forward hasn’t been revealed. Magallanes was let go in late July while the Mariners were floundering, though Dipoto suggested at the time that Seattle’s offensive shortcomings didn’t exclusively fall on the No. 3 in command.
Young just finished his second season on the staff as first-base coach and baserunning coordinator. He also oversaw the club’s outfield defense in ‘26, which previously fell under the purview of Kristopher Negrón, who took a higher role with the Pirates in ‘26 as their bench coach.