The Seattle Mariners are making changes to their coaching lineup, reportedly hiring Kevin Seitzer and Bobby Magallanes from the Atlanta Braves as hitting coach and assistant hitting coach, respectively.
While the Mariners have not yet formally announced their 2025 coaching staff, Daniel Kramer reports that Edgar Martínez will remain involved with the team in a more advisory role akin to a hitting coordinator.
This shift follows the interim role he took after the unexpected dismissal of Scott Servais and Jarret deHart, with the latter now working for the Yankees as director of hitting.
Additionally, the Mariners lost assistant hitting coach Tommy Joseph to the Orioles and field coordinator Carson Vitale to the Miami Marlins as their new bench coach.
Seitzer and Magallanes join the Mariners after being let go by the Braves despite time remaining on their contracts. Seitzer, 62, has extensive coaching experience, having been with the Braves for a decade and previously serving with teams like the Diamondbacks, Royals, and Blue Jays. His playing career spanned ten years in MLB, primarily with the Royals, and he remains active in baseball through a facility in Kansas City.
Magallanes, 55, was originally drafted by the Mariners in 1989 and began coaching after his playing career, working with organizations like the Angels and Braves. He brings a bilingual background and sports psychology expertise to the Mariners, aligning with their focus on mental skills development.
The pair led Atlanta’s offense during a successful period marked by playoff runs and a 2021 World Series victory. However, 2024 proved challenging as injuries and struggles led to Atlanta’s early playoff exit and a coaching overhaul. Seitzer acknowledged difficulties in keeping players from overpressing during the slump but has a proven record of helping hitters adjust, with notable success stories like Raul Ibañez.
By hiring Seitzer, the Mariners are signaling a commitment to an experience-driven approach to hitting, consistent with Martínez’s philosophy. Meanwhile, Magallanes adds a modern, psychology-influenced perspective to the team. Though the Mariners haven’t officially announced these changes, Magallanes’s social media already reflects his new role, hinting at his excitement to contribute to the organization.
