Meulens offered spot on Marlins' staff

Rowson named Miami's bench coach; Cepeda joining as bullpen coach

November 4th, 2019

MIAMI -- The Marlins are not only in the market for versatile players, they’re seeking similar qualities in the coaching staff they are assembling.

The latest potential addition to manager Don Mattingly’s staff is Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens, who will not be returning to San Francisco.

MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reports the Marlins have offered Meulens a spot on Mattingly’s staff. But exactly what role he would have is not yet known.

The Marlins are open for their staff to have versatility and some of their coaches expertise may overlap. For instance, Meulens has been a bench and hitting coach in the big leagues, so he is versed in the duties of both jobs.

But Miami is not alone in the pursuit of Meulens, who Morosi reports is also receiving interest for a coaching spot with other clubs.

Meulens was one of two known internal candidates to replace Bruce Bochy as the Giants' manager, along with third-base coach Ron Wotus, but he isn't a finalist for the job.

The Marlins haven’t confirmed any coaching moves, and they plan on making an announcement on all the positions once the staff is set. That could come sometime this week or before the GM Meetings begin next Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Meulens speaks five languages: English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento and Japanese.

The 52-year-old has been a hitting coach in the Minor Leagues, and he was a hitting coach at the big league level for San Francisco in 2010. He was part of a World Series-winning staff in three of his first five seasons with the Giants.

If hired, Meulens likely could have a role on the hitting side of Miami’s staff. And the fact that he’s been a bench coach means he also could have input in scheduling Spring Training days on the back fields at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla. Bench coaches traditionally handle the daily schedules in the spring.

The Marlins' new bench coach will be James Rowson, formerly the hitting coach with the Twins. Rowson won’t have a traditional bench coach role, either, because he also will be an “offensive coordinator.” In that capacity, his duties will also include instituting hitting plans for the big league and Minor League levels.

The other known new addition to the staff is bullpen coach Wellington Cepeda. The 41-year-old will be joining Miami after managing the D-backs’ Rookie-level Arizona League affiliate in 2019. Cepeda has been a Minor League roving pitching coordinator and he’s previously been a big league bullpen coach in Arizona.

Trey Hillman, who will be returning to the Marlins’ staff for a second straight season, will be an infield instructor and likely coach either first or third base. Hillman has been a big league manager and a bench coach in the past.

In putting together Mattingly’s staff, the Marlins are looking for high-end candidates with diverse coaching backgrounds. In some cases, their skill sets will overlap.

Jeff Livesey, the interim hitting coach in 2019, and assisting hitting coach Eric Duncan are both expected to remain in the organization, but their duties may change.

Meulens was San Francisco's bench coach in each of the past two seasons after serving as the team's hitting coach from 2010-17. A Curacao native, Meulens managed the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and '17. The former Major Leaguer previously interviewed for the Yankees' managerial vacancy, which was ultimately filled by Aaron Boone after the 2017 season.