New Pitching Coach for the Mets
TORONTO — The Mets have completed their search for a new pitching coach.
Justin Willard, previously the pitching director for the Red Sox, is set to take the position. This was confirmed on Saturday by various sources. Willard, at just 35, steps in for Jeremy Hefner, whose option for 2026 was declined following a disappointing second half of the season for the Mets.
In his new role, Willard will be looking to improve the performance of pitchers like Kodai Chiga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson. These players struggled significantly in the latter part of the season, which contributed to the team’s inability to secure a wild-card spot in the National League, culminating in a loss during the final game in Miami.
While with the Red Sox, Willard was known for his innovative use of technology to bolster the organization’s pitching strategies, working alongside pitching coach Andrew Bailey. Before that, he had a stint in the minor leagues with the Twins.
He emerged as the Mets’ top choice for Opening Day, a decision that was first reported by a prominent outlet.
In addition to Willard, the Mets are also planning to add a female coach to their staff. Rachel Folden is expected to be named the hitting coach for Double-A Binghamton. Folden previously served as a hitting coach in the Cubs’ minor league system.
At 38, she has gained recognition as a notable baseball training consultant after her career in fastpitch softball. Folden first joined the professional baseball scene in 2019, overseeing the Cubs’ Arizona Hitting Lab.
Moreover, the Mets have recently appointed Jeff Albert as the hitting director and brought in Troy Snitker as the hitting coach. Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, who were hitting coaches for the last two seasons, were let go last month despite having one year left on their contracts.
The Mets also hired Kai Correa as bench coach to replace John Gibbons. As of now, there hasn’t been a new appointment for the third base coach position following the departure of Mike Sarbaugh. Furthermore, first base coach Antoan Richardson may also be parting ways with the team after failing to reach a new agreement, although he played a role in the team’s success this season, including helping Juan Soto achieve a career-high 38 stolen bases.
