The Seattle Mariners have not met their expectations at the plate this season, prompting a significant decision aimed at improving their performance.
Mariners Release Offensive Coordinator Brant Brown
The Mariners announced on Friday that they have relieved Brant Brown of his duties as bench coach and offensive coordinator. Brown, 52, joined the team during the offseason after serving as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins last season.
Entering Friday, the Mariners led MLB with 594 strikeouts through their first 58 games, putting them on pace to break last year’s single-season record set by the Minnesota Twins. Seattle also ranked 29th in runs scored (211), 28th in batting average (.221), 25th in slugging (.361), and 24th in wRC+ (94).
Scott Servais on the Decision
“Obviously, we’ve had some struggles on the offensive side,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It’s not all Brant’s fault by any means. We just want to make a change, maybe bring in a different voice for our players, and refocus on what they do best.”
Servais emphasized the need to tailor the game plan for each hitter, noting that letting go of Brown, a former teammate and friend, was a tough decision.
“At the end of the day, we have to do what’s best for the team and our players,” Servais added.
Player Reactions
Veteran outfielder Mitch Haniger praised Brown’s work, acknowledging his intelligence and understanding of both game planning and swing mechanics. Haniger echoed that the offensive struggles were not Brown’s fault and expressed that the team enjoyed working with him.
Future Steps
In Brown’s absence, director of hitting strategy Jarret DeHart and assistant hitting coach Tommy Joseph will assume greater responsibilities. Servais mentioned that both have a clear understanding of the players’ strengths and will handle game planning and meetings.
Servais also indicated plans to bring in additional help from within the organization, noting that they have options with major league experience.
“Ultimately, we need to get more out of this group,” Servais said. “The players know we haven’t reached our potential yet. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead, even though this is a difficult day.”
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