Mariners Announce 2023 Major League Coaching Staff
Manny Acta, Tony Arnerich, Trent Blank, Jarret DeHart, Perry Hill, Kristopher Negrón, Carson Vitale and Pete Woodworth return to Major League staff; Stephen Vogt joins staff as Bullpen & Quality Control Coach
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and Mariners Manager Scott Servais announced today the Major League coaching staff for the 2023 season.
The Mariners 2023 staff includes two changes from 2022:
- Trent Blank, transitions to Major League Coach and Director of Pitching Strategy.
- Stephen Vogt, hired as Bullpen and Quality Control Coach.
In his new role, Blank will move from the bullpen to the dugout during games, allowing him to have a greater impact throughout the organization, while working with both starters and relievers.
Vogt joins the Mariners Major League staff in the first year following his retirement from his playing career, taking over Blank’s responsibilities in the bullpen as well as working as a Quality Control Coach.
In addition, Manny Acta (Third Base Coach), Tony Arnerich (Hitting Coach), Jarret DeHart (Hitting Coach, Director of Hitting Strategy), Perry Hill (Infield Coach), Kristopher Negrón (First Base Coach), Carson Vitale (Major League Field Coordinator) and Pete Woodworth (Pitching Coach) will all return to the Mariners Major League staff in the same roles in 2023.
“I’m thrilled that we’re able to return our entire coaching staff for the 2023 season,” Servais said. “Our coaches did a tremendous job helping our players improve and prepare every day in 2022, and they deserve a lot of credit for the success we had. With the addition of Stephen Vogt and a new role for Trent in 2023, we are well equipped to build on the winning foundation we have established here. I love working with this group, and I can’t wait to get rolling again at Spring Training.”
SEATTLE MARINERS 2022 MAJOR LEAGUE MANAGER, COACHING STAFF
- Manager — Scott Servais (8th year as Seattle Manager, 21st year in coaching/player development in pro baseball)
- Third Base Coach — Manny Acta (6th year as Third Base Coach, 8th year on Seattle staff, 29th year as pro coach)
- Hitting Coach — Tony Arnerich (2nd year as Hitting Coach, 7th year as pro coach)
- ML Coach, Director Pitching Strategy — Trent Blank (1st year as ML Coach and Director of Pitching Strategy, 4th year on Seattle staff, 5th year as pro coach)
- Hitting Coach, Director Hitting Strategy — Jarret DeHart (2nd year as Hitting Coach, 4th year on Seattle staff, 5th year as pro coach)
- Infield Coach — Perry Hill (5th year as Infield Coach, 31st year as pro coach)
- First Base Coach — Kristopher Negrón (2nd year as First Base Coach, 4th year in coaching/player development in pro baseball)
- ML Field Coordinator — Carson Vitale (4th year as ML Field Coordinator, 12th year as pro coach)
- Bullpen and Quality Control Coach — Stephen Vogt (1st year as Bullpen and Quality Control Coach, 1st year as pro coach)
- Pitching Coach — Pete Woodworth (3rd year as Pitching Coach, 7th year as pro coach)
- Bullpen Catcher — Fleming Báez (8th year as Bullpen Catcher)
- Bullpen Catcher — Justin Novak (1st year as Bullpen Catcher)
- Batting Practice Pitcher — Nasusel Cabrera (9th year as Batting Practice Pitcher)
“2022 saw our organization make a real breakthrough and our Major League staff deserves a lot of credit for the work they’ve done along the way,” Dipoto said. “As such, we begin 2023 with a return engagement for the entire 2022 ML staff, plus one exciting addition as we welcome Steven Vogt to the staff. As we continue to evolve as a team, we will be fortunate to do it with what I truly believe is one of the top coaching staffs in MLB. Our staff continues to feature a wonderful combination of leadership, expertise, creativity, and energy that contributes to what has become a winning environment.”
Stephen Vogt (Bullpen and Quality Control Coach) will be in his 1st season as a professional coach. He retired from a 10-year Major League career this offseason after appearing in 70 games with the Oakland Athletics during the 2022 campaign. During his Major League career, he was a two-time American League All-Star with the Oakland A’s (2015 & ’16), while appearing with 6 different clubs throughout his career. He resides in Olympia, WA with his wife Alissa, daughter Payton and two sons, Clark and Bennett.
Tony Arnerich (Hitting Coach) will be in his 2nd season as one of the club’s Major League Hitting Coaches. He spent the 2020 & 2021 seasons as the Mariners Minor League Field and Catching Coordinator. Arnerich joined the Mariners six years ago and spent his first three seasons (2017–2019) as the team’s Assistant Hitting Coordinator/Catching Coordinator. After retiring as a player in 2005, Arnerich spent nine seasons as a college coach, including from 2007 to 2014 as an assistant coach at Cal (Berkeley), where he helped lead the Golden Bears to a 2011 College World Series berth.
Manny Acta (Third Base Coach) returns for his 6th season as the club’s Third Base Coach, his 8th season overall on Seattle’s coaching staff. He spent two seasons (2018–2019) as the club’s Bench Coach. The 2022 season will be his 19th season as a Big League coach or manager. He managed the Cleveland Indians (2010–12) and Washington Nationals (2007–09) and, in addition to Seattle, has been a Major League third base coach with New York-NL (2005–06) and Montreal (2002–04).
Trent Blank (Major League Coach & Director of Pitching Strategy) enters his 1st season as ML Coach & Director of Pitching Strategy after spending the past two seasons as the club’s Bullpen Coach (2021 & 2022). He spent the 2020 season as the club’s Acting Bullpen Coach before being promoted to Bullpen Coach prior to the 2021 season. The 2023 season will be his 4rd on a Big League coaching staff and his 5th as a coach in the Mariners organization. He joined the Mariners as the Coordinator of Pitching Strategy in 2019 and was tabbed to serve in that role again in 2020 before joining the Big League coaching staff. Prior to joining the Mariners organization, he spent 4 years with TMI Sports Medicine working as a Baseball Performance Specialist. Blank was originally selected by Colorado in the 30th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Baylor University. He appeared in 3 seasons (2012–14) in the Rockies minor league system.
Jarret DeHart (Hitting Coach & Director of Hitting Strategy) enters his 2nd season as the club’s Hitting Coach & Director of Hitting Strategy. He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as Asst. Hitting Coach. He was roving minor league hitting strategist for the Mariners in 2019. In that role, he often spent time with the Seattle big league hitters, as well as his work throughout Seattle’s minor league system. He spent the 2018 season as the hitting coach for the Arizona League Mariners. He played collegiately at LSU (2013–14) and Tulane University (2015–17).
Perry Hill (Infield Coach) returns for his 5th season with the Mariners and his 28th season as a Big League coach in 2023. Hill’s players have won a total of 10 Gold Glove Awards during his career, including Mariners Gold Glove Award Winners J.P. Crawford and Evan White in 2020. “Bone” played one season of minor league baseball with Class-A Rio Grande Valley in 1976 before beginning his coaching career.
Kristopher Negrón (First Base Coach) will be in his 2nd season as the club’s First Base Coach. He is also responsible for outfield play and baserunning. The upcoming season will be his 4th in the Mariners organization after serving as Manager for the Tacoma Rainiers in 2021 and Assistant to the Director of Player Development in 2020. Negrón was voted Triple-A West Manager of the Year in 2021 after leading the Rainiers to a league championship with a 78–52 (.600) mark. Negrón appeared in parts of six Major League seasons as a player with Cincinnati (2012, 2014–15), Arizona (2017–18), Seattle (2018–19) and Los Angeles-NL (2019).
Carson Vitale (Major League Field Coordinator) returns for his 4th season as the club’s Major League Field Coordinator. He spent the 2018–19 seasons as the Mariners minor league field coordinator where he was responsible for all aspects of the on-field work done in the Player Development department by the Mariners players and staff. He joined the Mariners organization after spending two seasons (2016–17) as the Los Angeles Dodgers International Field Coordinator. He also spent four seasons (2012–15) in the player development department of the Los Angeles Angels. Carson was manager of the Dominican Summer League Angels in 2014–15. He is a graduate (2010) of Creighton University, and was a 38th round selection by the Texas Rangers in the 2010 First Year Player Draft.
Pete Woodworth (Pitching Coach) will be in his 4th season as the club’s Pitching Coach. Following the 2022 season, he was recognized by Baseball America as the Major League Coach of the Year. Prior to joining the Big League staff, he spent the 2019 season as the pitching coach for the Arkansas Travelers, the Mariners affiliate in the Dobule-A Texas League. Following the 2019 season, Woodworth was named the Texas League Coach of the Year. The 2023 season will be his 8th in the Mariners organization. He spent 2017 and 2018 as the pitching coach for High-A Modesto after joining the Mariners on June 22, 2016 as the pitching coach at Class-A Clinton. He came to the Seattle organization from his alma mater, Florida Gulf Coast University.
In addition, Nasusel Cabrera will remain with the Big League staff in his position as batting practice pitcher and Fleming Báez will return as bullpen catcher. Justin Novak joins the staff as bullpen catcher, returning to the Mariners organization after spending the 2022 season as a Major League Coaching Assistant with the San Diego Padres. Novak previously spent three seasons with the Mariners from 2019–2021, serving as Interpreter/Bullpen Catcher in 2019 and transitioning into Player Development for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
