The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized their coaching staff for the 2019 MLB season. Manager Charlie Montoyo announced the staff which will include Pete Walker, Luis Rivera, Guillermo Martinez, John Schneider, Mark Budzinski, Matt Buschmann, Shelley Duncan and Dave Hudgens.
Montoyo was announced as the new manager last month after the team mutually parted ways with John Gibbons at the end of last season. Montoyo appeared in just four MLB games with the Montreal Expos back in 1993 but played in over 1,000 minor league games. The Puerto Rico native was previously part of Tampa Bay Rays organization in various roles over several years.
Walker is a returnee from 2018 as he will serve as the pitching coach for the seventh consecutive season but has been part of the Jays’ Major League staff for 11 seasons. Walker played for five different teams, including the Blue Jays, over an 11-year MLB career.
Rivera is also returning and will be the third-base coach. This will be his seventh season on staff and ninth in the organization. Rivera spent 12 years in the MLB with five different teams and was previously with the Cleveland Indians organization.
Martinez is the new hitting coach, a role previously filled by Brook Jacoby. Martinez was drafted twice but never made it up to the MLB. The 34-year-old joined Toronto as its minor league hitting and infield coach in 2012 before being promoted to this position.
Schneider spent six seasons in the Blue Jays’ minor league organization as a catcher. He has since been in the organization for 11 years as a coach and other positions. Most recently he led Toronto’s AA team to the Eastern League championship in 2018. The 38-year-old will serve as the Major League coach.
Budzinski replaces Tim Leiper as the first-base coach. Budzinski spent most of his professional career in the minor leagues, appearing in just four MLB games. He spent last season on the Cleveland Indians coaching staff.
Buschmann is the new bullpen coach as he takes the place of Dane Johnson. Buschmann is a former minor league pitcher and was in the San Francisco Giants organization last season.
Duncan will be the Major League field coordinator. Duncan spent six years in the MLB with three different teams. The Arizona native was in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for the last four seasons.
Hudgens will replace DeMarlo Hale in the bench coach position. Hudgens won a World Series with the Houston Astros as their hitting coach in 2017.
The Blue Jays will try to improve with this new coaching staff after a disappointing 2018 season that resulted in a 73-89 record. All in all, this is a younger and well-rounded staff for new manager Montoyo, and these new hires have a lot of experience from all assets of the game.
Nick's Sports World 