The Blue Jays are parting ways with hitting coach Guillermo Martinez, reports Scott Mitchell of TSN (X link). It’s the first change to John Schneider’s staff on the heels of a disappointing season.
Martinez has been Toronto’s hitting coach since the 2018-19 offseason. The Jays have also employed Don Mattingly as bench coach and offensive coordinator for the past couple seasons. However the Jays divided responsibilities between Mattingly and Martinez, they’ll look for a new voice at hitting coach.
The Jays had high expectations this year after winning between 89 and 92 games in each of the previous three seasons. Instead, Toronto finished at the bottom of the AL East with a 74-88 showing. The offense was a big part of that. The Jays finished 23rd in MLB with 671 runs. Their rate stats were closer to average. They hit .241/.313/.389, finishing between 13th and 20th in the slash categories. The Jays were 26th in home runs, though, certainly not providing the kind of power they’d anticipated. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected on 30 homers; no one else on the team reached 20.
Guerrero looks like a top 10 hitter in MLB. The Jays got promising work out of rookie infielder Spencer Horwitz. There wasn’t a ton else that went right for the team offensively. Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner were traded midseason. Leo Jiménez was the only other hitter (minimum 200 plate appearances) with a better than average wRC+, and his .229/.329/.358 line was marginally above par. Toronto’s biggest focus on the offensive side is getting Bo Bichette back on track. The star shortstop entered the 2024 campaign as a career .299/.340/.487 hitter. He hit .225/.277/.322 this season around a trio of injured list stints.
GO1962
If the Blue Jays can part with their hitting coach, the Cardinals should do the same.
Rsox
I mean, at least the Jays didn’t announce his replacement a year in advance while simultaneously stripping him of his duties but keeping him around so as not to pay him for nothing for a year.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I just hope Jerry Dipoto doesn’t hire him.
bestone
This is an excellent opportunity for Justin Turner. Respected in the clubhouse, knows the team, knows the opposition pitchers, knows Toronto. First step guys.
Shady1771
That’s a start! A few more need to pack their bags! Although it has been literally beaten to death, Shatkins duo needs to go. If that doesn’t happen nothing is going to significantly change in 2025! The players this team needs will never sign with those two at the helm. I feel awfully bad for players at the tail end of their careers who don’t have many years left, who desperately want to end on a winning team because as long as the owners continue to make money on this team they’re not going to be prepared to really get after and sign who they need to put a championship team on the field. Why spend more money when you are still making money. As long as they put a ”hopeful” team on the field Jays fans will continue to support them and the owners know it!