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

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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!

Minnesota Twins v Philadelphia Phillies / Mike McGinnis/GettyImages

Tommy Joseph, Assistant Hitting Coach

The Giants recruited Tommy Joseph in the 2009 Amateur Drive from Horizon High School. He spent his MLB years playing for Philadelphia. Initially, Joseph played catcher. His batting average was .247

Joseph struggled with some injuries after joining Philadelphia such as vision problems from a concussion and surgery on his left wrist. He also switched positions from catcher to first baseman as the Phillies' starting first baseman was not hitting well. Joseph then had the opportunity to start games. He hit seven home runs in his first 21 games, a first for a Phillies player. Despite being new to his position, he was named the first baseman on the 2016 Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

The arrival of Carlos Santana and the presence of Rhys Hoskins gave Joseph fewer opportunities to play and he was DFA’d. He played for the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox in the minor leagues and finished his professional playing career in 2019.

Joseph was the hitting coach for the St. Lucie Mets in 2021, the Bingingham Rumble Ponies in 2022, and the Eugene Emeralds in 2023. Now, the Seattle Mariners have him for 2024!

The Full Squad

Brown and Joseph join the other Mariners coaches. Check out the whole team, and which coaches hold specific positions.

Scott Servais (Manager)
Manny Acta (Third Base Coach)
Kristopher Negron (First Base Coach)
Perry Hill (Infield Coach)
Jarret De Hart (Hitting Coach and Director of Hitting Strategy)
Pete Woodworth (Pitching Coach)
Trent Blank (Major League Coach and Director of Pitching Strategy)
Carson Vitale (Major League Field Coordinator)
Tony Arnerich (Bullpen Coach)
Nasusel Cabrera (Bullpen Pitcher)
Fleming Baez (Bullpen Catcher)
Justin Novak (Bullpen Catcher)

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Brant Brown, Offensive Coordinator, and Bench Coach

Tommy Joseph, Assistant Hitting Coach

The Full Squad

Schedule