SEATTLE – The Mariners announced on Friday that they have parted ways with offensive coordinator and bench coach Brandt Brown.
The Mariners also announced that director of hitting strategy Jarrett DeHart and assistant hitting coach Tommy Joseph will expand their roles with the offense. Mariners manager Scott Servais said the club will “add another set of hands” to fill Brown’s role in the near future.
“We’ve got guys in the organization; some of them have major league experience,” Service said. “They can come in and work — hitting coordinators and different people that come around town to help out.”
Brown was hired last summer to fill a newly created position of specialist in mental domain, general approach and mid-game adjustment, complementing DeHart, whose focus is on mechanics and swing. During the games, Brown served as a bench coach for Service when he played in the big leagues in the late 1990s.
The move comes as Seattle sits three games back in first place in the American League West but has one of the majors’ least productive offenses.
The Mariners entered Friday with the second-fewest runs scored in the majors (211, or 3.6 per game). They lead in hits (567) and rank 28th in batting average (.221), 27th in on-base percentage (.295), 25th in slugging percentage (.361) and 28th in OPS (.656).
“We’re nowhere near what we’re capable of,” Service said. “So I’m looking forward to what’s next. It doesn’t make this day any easier. No question, it is very difficult.
The lack of offensive production goes against the Mariners’ elite pitching staff, which has maintained its highest salary and is one of the best in the majors.
“Unfortunately, our collective production led us to this decision as an offense, and we all don’t feel very good about that,” said Mitch Haninger, who was close to Brown and worked with him during his early days with the organization. In the year In 2017, when Brown worked with the minor league side.
It is not Bruni’s fault. It’s not his fault. So I have no idea as to other reasons. But we are trying to gather our things together and move on. We all really enjoy working with him. Very professional and very good trainer.
Brown was known for his unorthodox messaging, a major part of which he was an eager recruit. But there were times when his pregame meetings were complicated for some players.
“Everybody has their own coaching style, and that’s what makes coaches unique,” Service said. But ultimately, you have to deal with the players you have. … you have to produce. It’s a do good league. And finally, we have a lot to gain from this team.
This marks the first time Servais and Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto have fired an hitting coach after the 2015 season. The last time was earlier that year, when Howard Johnson was fired and replaced by Mariners icon and Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez.
After clearing several interviews last November, Brown was highly regarded by Service and Seattle’s front office. Then-bullpen coach Stephen Vogt jumped on the Mariners’ radar shortly after taking over the bullpen on Nov. 6. Had he stayed, Vogt would have been thrust into the role of bench coach in Seattle, two years removed from playing. Profession.
At the time, Seattle’s front office was vulnerable and had a strong offseason with a run-or-bust offense.
Brown had great success helping the Marlins reach the postseason in 2023, his only year as a hitting coach. Prior to that, he was honored for his role as assistant hitting coach (2018-19) and then hitting coach (2020-22) with the Dodgers.
Brown’s association with the Mariners dates back to 2012-17, when he served as the club’s minor league outfield coordinator (2012-16) and offensive coordinator in the player development system (2017).