Mariners lock in 2025 big league coaching staff

November 26th, 2024

SEATTLE -- The Mariners officially unveiled their Major League coaching staff for the 2025 season on Tuesday, and the group collectively carries an old-school look, a by-design personification of what Dan Wilson hopes to establish as he eyes his first full season as manager.

The most notable addition is hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who MLB.com first reported was joining the staff on Monday night. Seitzer spent the past 10 years in the same role with the Braves, with whom he helped develop a slew of homegrown players that paved the way for seven straight playoff appearances and the 2021 World Series title.

Seitzer, 62, is joined by assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, who was in the same role in Atlanta since 2021 -- his first in an MLB coaching capacity.

The other newcomers are first-base coach Eric Young Jr., who was in the same post with the Nationals from 2022-23 but was with the Mariners in ‘21 as the first-base coach at Triple-A Tacoma and last season as the Minors baserunning coordinator, and Louis Boyd, who takes over for Carson Vitale as the Major League field coordinator.

Boyd held the same role on the Minors side the past two years, following a similar trajectory as Vitale, who is leaving to become the bench coach under new Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, according to sources.

The rest of Seattle’s ‘25 group consists of those who were on the staff last year, albeit with some changes.

Edgar Martinez, as has long been expected, is moving to a broader role as the senior director of hitting strategy, where he’ll spearhead the development of practices and philosophies. Martinez spent the final 34 games last year as Seattle’s hitting coach -- to great success but in an interim role. In his new post, he’ll be a regular presence at home games and throughout Spring Training but will not travel regularly during the regular season.

Longtime third-base coach Manny Acta, who’s been with the organization throughout the Jerry Dipoto era (since 2015), is transitioning to bench coach, a role that the Mariners haven’t had since Jared Sandberg in ‘21, other than a brief stint last year with Brant Brown, who was hired to a newly created role of offensive coordinator but then dismissed in late May.

Kristopher Negrón will take over Acta’s old role at third, after spending last year as first-base coach. Negrón, 38, is widely viewed to be on the rise within the coaching industry and interviewed for the White Sox managerial position that eventually went to Will Venable, according to a source. He also oversees outfield play.

The braintrust of pitching coach Pete Woodworth and director of pitching strategy Trent Blank -- who’ve been widely credited for overseeing one of MLB’s best rotations the past few seasons -- remain intact, as does infield coach Perry Hill, bullpen coach and catching instructor Tony Arnerich and assistant pitching coach and pitching strategist Danny Farquhar.

In addition, Fleming Báez and Justin Novak will return as bullpen catchers.

“I love the staff we have put together for 2025,” Wilson said in a statement. “Between the additions of Kevin, Bobby, Eric and Louis and the returning coaches, I believe we have the right mix of experience and energy to help prepare our players for a successful 2025 season.”

Here’s a full breakdown of Seattle’s 2025 coaching staff:

• Manager: Dan Wilson (1st full year, 12th year in pro coaching and player development)

• Bench coach: Manny Acta (3rd year as bench coach; 10th on Seattle’s staff; 24th year as pro coach)

• Senior director of hitting strategy: Edgar Martinez (1st year; 6th on Seattle’s staff and 11th as pro coach)

• Third-base coach: Kristopher Negrón (1st year; 4th on Seattle’s staff; 6th in pro coaching and player development)

• Hitting coach: Kevin Seitzer (1st year; 17th on Major League coaching staff)

• Assistant hitting coach: Bobby Magallanes (1st year; 5th on Major League coaching staff)

• Major League field coordinator: Louis Boyd (1st year; 1st on Major League staff; 7th in pro coaching and player development)

• First-base coach: Eric Young Jr. (1st year; 3rd on Major League staff; 6th as pro coach)

• Bullpen coach and catching instructor: Tony Arnerich (2nd year; 4th on Seattle’s staff; 9th as pro coach)

• Director of pitching strategy: Trent Blank (3rd year; 6th on Seattle’s staff; 7th as pro coach)

• Assistant pitching coach and pitching strategist: Danny Farquhar (2nd year; 6th as pro coach)

• Infield coach: Perry Hill (7th year; 38th as pro coach)

• Pitching coach: Pete Woodworth (6th year; 10th year as pro coach)

• Bullpen catchers: Fleming Báez (10th year) and Justin Novak (3rd year)