The Detroit Tigers confirmed recent reports on hirings for their 2027 coaching staff on Friday. They announced the hiring of Kyle Hudson as the new first base and baserunning coach. Hudson worked with outfielders in his most recent job as Boston Red Sox’s third base coach, so perhaps he’ll take on some of those responsibilities in Detroit as well. Still the emphasis from the Tigers is on the baserunning side. Hudson was also an assistant coach for the Cleveland Guardians from 2020-2022 before joining
the Red Sox.
The Tigers had already hired longtime major league catcher Martin Maldonado, whom AJ Hinch worked with briefly in Houston, as their new quality coach this offseason. Maldonado was behind the plate during the Astros 2022 run to the World Series championship. He brings a strong reputation as a leader and game planner, as well as his skill coaching the position, to the Tigers.
Longtime catching coach Ryan Sienko, who joined the organization in 2021, AJ Hinch’s first year as manager, will retain his duties coaching catchers, but will also now handle duties as bullpen coach following Juan Nieves departure from the organization. It’s typically a pitching coach in that role, so that’s a bit interesting. Presumably, Maldonado will handle more of the pre-game pitch planning with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia, while Sienko will continue coaching the actual catching skills, but perhaps their responsibilities will be mixed between them as well.
The Tigers have yet to replace Gabe Ribas as director of pitching in the farm system after his departure to work for the Colorado Rockies last offseason. They’ve replaced Nieves, who has been Chris Fetter’s assistant pitching coach since 2021, with a catcher, leaving Fetter and assistant Robin Lund as a duo to coach the pitchers. Perhaps they’ll end up hiring a new pitching director this offseason, but it’s a bit peculiar that they’re cutting out both major and minor league pitching coaches. Those responsibilities still have to be fulfilled by someone, but without some detailed clarification from the organization it’s difficult to pin down who is actually doing what at this point in regard to those roles.
George Lombard is expected to stay on for his seventh year as Tigers bench coach under Hinch. Billy Boyer took over from Joey Cora as third base coach during the 2026 season and seems set to remain in that role. Beyond Maldonado, Hudson, Sienko, Fetter, and Lund, the Tigers are working with a three-man group of hitting coaches. Michael Brdar, Cody Asche, and Lance Zawadski, who seem set to be retained for 2027. Boyer was the Tigers quality control coach last season, and will cede that job to Maldonado.
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic also reports that the Tigers have hired Scott Peters as their new medical director, while Jeremiah Randle has been hired as the Tigers new athletic trainer. Peters was most recently the director of health and performance science for the Toronto Blue Jays. Randall was the head athletic trainer for the Astros from 2016-2025.
Former head trainer Ryan Eubanks and assistent trainer Chris McDonald parted ways with the Tigers organization at season’s end.
The Tigers also confirmed the hiring of Jay Sartori as Vice President of Baseball Operations. Sartori was formerly an assistant general manager in the organization going back to the beginning of the Tigers rebuild in 2017. He left last season for a college job in the ACC but has returned to the fold this offseason.
