After last week’s significant shakeup, the Mets are moving quickly to address an important coaching gap.
Jeff Albert, who previously worked as the hitting director, will now be in charge of the major league team’s hitting efforts, according to various sources.
At 44, Albert’s coaching journey in MLB began with the Astros, and he later became the Cardinals’ hitting coach in 2018.
The Mets are also looking to bring on at least one more hitting coach to support Albert, following the recent dismissals of hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, both of whom had one year remaining on their contracts.
This season, the Mets ranked sixth in MLB with a .753 OPS, but they faced challenges scoring during the first half, particularly with runners in scoring position.
Albert joined the organization before the current season to lead the minor league hitting program.
A source familiar with the team noted, “The minor league hitting program is quite strong. The major league staff was consistently aligned with that. Albert is exceptionally smart and talented. He has the skills to make that work, and he’s done it before.”
Although six coaches resigned, Carlos Mendoza continues as head coach after the team encountered a tough loss to Miami on the last day of the regular season, just missing the playoffs.
Additionally, catchers instructor Glenn Sherlock retired, and bench coach John Gibbons stepped down.
Besides the firing of Barnes and Chavez, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner’s option for 2026 will not be exercised, and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh has a contract that won’t be renewed.
