The Mets’ search for a new hitting coach is picking up steam, and Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee is now firmly in the mix.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported Tuesday that the Mets will interview Mallee for the opening. That comes after the club’s other publicly known candidate, longtime hitting coach Kevin Long, was scheduled to meet with New York on Tuesday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Jesse Rogers of ESPN added another layer to the chase, reporting that the Mets’ interest in Mallee is “heating up.”
Mallee brings a long résumé to the table. He has worked as a big-league hitting coach with the Marlins, Astros, Cubs and Phillies, then returned to Chicago after a short stop with the Angels. He has spent the last three seasons as the Cubs’ assistant hitting coach.
His work in Chicago has drawn attention for more than one reason. Mallee helped guide the development of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the former Mets first-round pick who was sent to the Cubs in the Javier Baez deal in 2021.
Crow-Armstrong is expected to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award this year. Mallee also had a hand in a Cubs offense that, along with head hitting coach Dustin Kelly, led the league this season in runs with 850 and OPS at .767.
Long brings his own case. He was the Mets’ hitting coach when the team reached the World Series in 2015, and since then he has held the same job with the Yankees, Nationals and Phillies. Philadelphia fired him this month, even though two years remained on his contract.
The Mets moved on from Jeff Albert, their director of major league hitting, after this season. Hitting coach Troy Snitker and assistant Rafael Fernandez are expected back next year, but it’s not yet clear whether the team plans to replace Albert directly or elevate Snitker and bring in an assistant under him.
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