Hampton, Candaele join Mariners coaching staff

SEATTLE -- Former Mariners pitcher Mike Hampton has been hired as the team's new bullpen coach and long-time utility player Casey Candaele will be the new first-base coach, the club announced Monday.

The two hires fill out the primary coaching positions for new manager Scott Servais, who previously had named bench coach Tim Bogar, hitting coach Edgar Martinez, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. and third-base coach Manny Acta.

"Casey brings a great presence and high baseball IQ to our staff," Servais said. "He'll be working with our outfielders and on baserunning, both areas that he is uniquely prepared for given his experience over the past five years. Mike brings a tremendous amount of experience. His competitive nature will team well with Mel Stottlemyre as they help guide our pitching staff through the season."

Hampton pitched for the Mariners in 1993 at the start of a 16-year Major League career during which he posted a 148-115 record with a 4.06 ERA with six clubs. The 43-year-old was a pitching coach in the Angels' Minor League system in 2013 with Double-A Arkansas and in '14 with their Arizona League squad.

Hampton, drafted in the sixth round by the Mariners in 1990, was a National League All-Star with the Astros in 1999 and Rockies in 2001, a Gold Glove Award winner in 2003 and a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He finished second in the 1999 NL Cy Young Award voting after going 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA for the Astros.

Candaele, 54, spent last year as the field coordinator for the Rangers, overseeing instruction for Minor League players at all levels of their organization and coordinating Spring Training and instructional league operations. He was the Minor League infield and baserunning coordinator for Texas the previous four seasons.

Candaele played nine seasons in the Majors with the Expos, Astros and Indians from 1986-97, hitting .250 in 754 games. He was primarily a second baseman, but also appeared in games at every other infield position and all three outfield spots.

Candaele's late mother, Helen Callaghan St. Aubin, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, making him and his mother the only mother-son combination believed to have played pro baseball at the highest available levels.

Chris Woodward initially was offered the opportunity to return as Seattle's first-base coach, but he subsequently informed the team he wanted to work closer to his family in Florida. That leaves Martinez as the only returning member of last year's coaching staff.