After weeks of searching, the Mets have finally filled their hitting coach opening, but the solution comes with a twist.
New York is reportedly hiring Johnny Washington as a co-hitting coach on Andy Green’s staff, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The move comes after the Mets fired Jeff Albert following just one season as hitting coordinator.
Washington, 42, most recently worked as the Atlanta Braves’ minor league hitting coordinator in 2026. Before that, he was on the major-league side with the Los Angeles Angels under Ron Washington. He also has a familiar connection to Green from their time together in San Diego, and that link appears to matter here.
In fact, this is the second hire this week with ties to Green. The Mets also brought in former major league catcher A.J.
Ellis, who played under Green in 2018, as their major league strategy coordinator. New York has also promoted Mariano Duncan to the major league staff after he spent last season as Double-A Binghamton’s bench coach.
What makes Washington’s addition unusual is the role itself. The Mets already have hitting coach Troy Snitker and assistant hitting coach Rafael Fernandez, both of whom were kept on despite the club’s disappointing offensive season. After Albert was let go, the expectation was that New York would bring in someone to take charge of the hitting staff, not add another voice to the mix.
The Mets did explore other options. They reportedly spoke with the Chicago Cubs’ John Mallee and the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kevin Long, two respected names who were viewed as strong candidates to lead the staff. Neither pursuit worked out, and New York appears to have settled on a familiar face from Green’s San Diego days.
That leaves the Mets with three hitting coaches in the same clubhouse, which is an odd setup on its face. Still, it’s not without precedent.
The Milwaukee Brewers had four hitting coaches on their major league staff last season, and that arrangement helped them win their first World Series title in franchise history. The difference is that Milwaukee had a designated lead hitting coach, while the Mets reportedly do not have that distinction right now.
How all of this functions in practice remains to be seen. What isn’t up for debate is the pressure on the offense to bounce back.
The Mets finished in the bottom 10 in several key offensive categories last season, including on-base percentage (.310), slugging percentage (.396), and runs scored (699). Injuries played a major role, especially with Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto appearing in fewer than 60 games together.
With both players expected back healthy next season, the offense has to be a strength. If the Mets get off to another slow start, Washington and Snitker could both wind up under scrutiny quickly.
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Jon Morosi suggested a trade may be more likely than an extension, pointing to Abrams recent strong performance and his preference to stay at shortstop. That creates a tricky fit if Washingtons future plans lean in a different direction, and it is why the Nationals may also be open to listening on James Wood. For a team still sorting out its next core, this is the kind of decision that can shape the rebuild far beyond one offseason. [Read more 🡒]