Mets finalize coaching staff under Rojas

NEW YORK -- The Mets finalized their 2021 coaching staff under manager Luis Rojas on Tuesday, officially announcing Chili Davis’ return as hitting coach while creating two new positions and promoting one Minor League staff member.

Davis, 60, spent last season working remotely due to COVID-19 concerns. Well-liked by players including Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, Davis preaches an all-fields approach that the Mets have executed with success. The team hit .234 in 2018, before Davis came aboard, increasing to .257 in his first season, then to a Major League-leading .272 in 2020. The Mets’ runs per game average also increased from 4.17 to 4.77 under Davis.

Tom Slater will return as Davis’ assistant in 2021, after serving as interim on-site hitting coach while Davis worked remotely.

On the pitching side, Ricky Meinhold will join the Mets’ staff as an assistant coach and Minor League pitching coordinator. Meinhold served in the latter role last season, but will now add big league responsibilities to his job description. He’ll work alongside Jeremy Accardo, who will return as assistant pitching coach under Jeremy Hefner. Longtime Mets employee Ricky Bones will also reprise his role as bullpen coach.

In addition, the Mets rebranded Brian Schneider’s role from quality control coach to Major League field coordinator and catching coach. The team will no longer have a quality control coach on staff.

The Mets previously announced that Dave Jauss would serve as bench coach in 2020, replacing Hensley Meulens, and that Tony Tarasco would come aboard as first-base coach. On Tuesday, the team also confirmed that Gary DiSarcina will return as third-base coach. DiSarcina has drawn rave reviews for his infield instruction with Amed Rosario, Alonso and others.

The Mets’ full field staff:
Manager: Luis Rojas
Bench coach: Dave Jauss
Hitting coach: Chili Davis
Pitching coach: Jeremy Hefner
First-base/outfield/baserunning coach: Tony Tarasco
Third-base/infield coach: Gary DiSarcina
Bullpen coach: Ricky Bones
Assistant hitting coach: Tom Slater
Assistant pitching coach: Jeremy Accardo
Assistant pitching coach/Minor League pitching coordinator: Ricky Meinhold
Major League field coordinator/catching coach: Brian Schneider

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