Batting Help Arrives in Seattle! Mariners welcome Two New Coaches!

When the writers at Sodo Mojo formulated their wishes for the 2023 season in the Fall of 2022, I suggested that the Mariners hire hitting coaches with MLB experience. If our players are struggling with batting, should they have to go to Driveline or elsewhere in the offseason when they could have experts onsite? We have seen how Pete Woodworth and Perry Hill work with pitchers and infielders and fine-tune players' approaches, often just slightly, to improve the players’ skills.  I am delighted to welcome these two coaches.

Brant Brown, Offensive Coordinator, and Bench Coach

The Cubs signed this California native in the 1992 MLB June Amateur Draft from Cal State Fresno. He has played outfield and first base as well as being a pinch hitter.

Brown played in the Cubs minor leagues until he debuted on June 15, 1996, and then played in the Majors for three years with Chicago. Subsequently, he played a year for the Pirates and spent time between the Marlins, the Cardinals, and the Brewers.  He did play his final games with the Cubs.  The Mariners may be his first MLB experience with the American League! Brown hit .304 in his first season with the Cubs in over 69 at-bats. On June 18th of that year, Brown hit three home runs in four at-bats. On June 22, he had five hits in one game.

Brown coached several California minor league teams and the Round Rock Express in Texas, the former Jackson Generals. In 2018, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired him to share a position with Luis Ortiz as a hitting coach for the Dodgers and as a minor league coordinator.  He stayed with the Dodgers for several years and spent one year in Miami as a hitting coach. Now, he will coach for the Mariners!