Mariners News: Mariners Hire Mike Hampton and Casey Candaele

The Mariners moved towards finalizing their coaching staff by hiring Mike Hampton and Casey Candaele.

Mike Hampton (Bullpen Coach) and Casey Candaele (1B Coach) join the coaching staff manager Scott Servais already has place of Tim Bogar (Bench Coach), Edgar Martinez (Hitting Coach), and Manny Acta (3B Coach).

“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.”

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Mike Hampton was drafted by the Mariners in the 6th round of the 1990 draft.  He made his major league debut on April 17, 1993.  He went on to participate in 16 seasons in the majors on 5 different teams earning 2 NL All-Star appearances, 5 Silver Sluggers,  and a gold glove.  He was the first pitcher to record a gold glove and a silver slugger in the same year in 2003.  Hampton comes to the Mariners for his very first major league coaching job.  He has been a pitching coach in the Angels minor league system for the last three years with the Arkansas Travelers.  Now he returns to the club that drafted him to join Scott Servais’ staff as the bullpen coach.

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Casey Candaele was signed as an amateur free agent by the Montreal Expos on August 15, 1982.  He had a 9 year major league career as a utility player with 3 teams.  He played all the outfield positions, second base, short stop and first base.  Houston Astros Hall of Fame announcer Milo Hamilton called Candaele the “Mighty Mite” for his aggressive play despite his diminutive size.  Casey is 5-foot-9.  He is the son of Helen Callaghan who was widely known as the “Ted Williams” of women’s baseball when she played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.  Candaele’s .250 career batting average was seven points lower than his mother’s career batting average of .257.  Casey and Helen are the only known mother/son combination to play professional baseball.