The Mariners announced their minor league coaching staffs for the upcoming season this week. While these aren’t names the average fan will be able to rattle off, each one of these people plays a crucial
role in the development of Mariners minor-leaguers, from the high-minors managers who get to tell a prospect he’s making it to the Show all the way to a mental skills coach at the Peoria complex helping a Latin teenager adjust to living in the US for the first time. This year’s group of individuals features many returning faces, some in new roles, and some exciting new hires—some that will be familiar if you’ve followed the Mariners minor leagues for a long time.
Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A)
The Rainiers return John Russell for his fourth year as manager. Russell has helped the Rainiers to an above-.500 finish in each of his years as manager; last year, Tacoma went 86-64 last season and won the PCL’s second-half title with the best record during that time. Long-tenured Mariners coach Eric Farris returns as bench coach for his fourth season with the Rainiers and his eighth in the organization. Former Rainier and certified Nice Guy Seth Mejias-Brean moves up to join Tacoma as hitting coach, continuing a rapid ascent after he first joined the organization in 2023 after retiring from professional baseball. Tacoma returns its entire training staff of Corey Measner as strength and conditioning coach, Aric Quinney as strength coach, and Amanda Lee as athletic trainer/assistant minor league athletic training coordinator.
The biggest shift for the Rainiers is the addition of a new pitching coach, as Jairo Cuevas will not return. Tacoma’s new pitching coach is Mike McCarthy, who those of you ABL superfans might remember as a standout for the champion Perth Heat in 2015. From scanning his social media, McCarthy has a special focus on the mental side of pitching, which will be helpful as he helps pitchers navigate the bounce houses of the PCL.
Arkansas Travelers (Double-A)
The Travs will have a new manager this year with Ryan Scott returning to Everett: Australian-born Rich Thompson, who pitched for the Angels from 2007-2012 (and has a silver medal from the 2004 Olympic Games). Thompson’s coaching experience largely comes from just down the highway from Dickey-Stephens Park, at National Park College in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Thompson will be supported by a crew of returning Mariners coaches: the beloved Jose Umbria as bench coach, Cameron Ming as pitching coach, and Jordan Cowan, who moves from from Everett to serve as hitting coach. Kyle Briggs will serve as strength and conditioning coach and Dan Laberry will serve as athletic trainer.
Everett AquaSox (High-A)
After a year spent in Arkansas, Ryan Scott returns to manage the AquaSox after spending 2023-24 helming the team. He’ll be joined by a new hire, Logan Moore, as bench coach. Moore was a long-tenured catcher in the Phillies system, spending ten years there and another handful of years in the independent/foreign leagues before beginning his coaching career. The amount of PB&J that man must have consumed over his career.
A pair of coaches make a big jump up to Everett from the ACL: former Mariner farmhand and super nice guy Bryan Pall as pitching coach, and Chase Miller as hitting coach. Max Miller returns as strength and conditioning coach and Stephanie McLain returns as athletic trainer.
Inland Empire 66ers (A)
The newest addition to the Mariner farm system, the 66ers will have returning Modesto manager Luis Caballero at the helm with former Mariner farmhand Josh Morgan continuing in his role as bench coach. Sam Delaplane joins the organization that drafted him in his first year of coaching and will serve as the teams’ pitching coach, a particularly exciting addition for Mariner minor league sickos. [Ed. note: Is Sam Delaplane the first Mariner coach who was also a player we did a 40 in 40 for?] . Strength and conditioning coach Luke Carlson and athletic trainer Bryanna Brown round out the rest of the staff at present, though the team denotes future hires will be announced if/when they occur.
ACL/DSL Mariners
Manager Hecmart Nieves, moving down from High-A Everett but up in the coaching tree, will lead the way for the ACL squad this season, with bench coach Chase Wullenweber following just behind as second in command. Tanner Gordon will serve as pitching coach while George M. Bell (the son of the George Bell you may or may not have though of) will be the team’s hitting coach. Sergio Plasencia has been awarded the role of “return to play coach”, and the trio of Quinten Arellano, Cameron Werme, and Randy Roetter make up the athletic training/strength of conditioning section of the staff.
Led by second year manager Luis Matias, eighth year bench coach Guady Jabalera and returning pitching coach Jose Amancio, the DSL staff will look to turn things around from last year after a turbulent season. Hitting coach Angus Stayte, outfield/baserunning coach Jesus Galindo, and strength and conditioning coaches Ramire Cleto and Alfredo Alcantara round out the physical coaching staff, though the DSL team also features extensive personnel dedicated to keeping players at the top of their game and helping players grow both on the field and beyond. Ivan Mercedes, Humberto Figueroa, Ronaldo De La Cruz, Walkyria Torres, and Estefany Rodriguez make up the DSL’s athletic training, mental health, and education departments, all playing a crucial role in the lives of these young men.
