The Mets have chosen Glenn Sherlock as their new bench coach, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). Sherlock was a member of the Pirates coaching staff for the last two seasons, and also has ties to both manager Buck Showalter and the Mets.
The Showalter-Sherlock connection began with the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate in 1989, when Sherlock was playing and Showalter was managing. That was the final season of Sherlock’s seven-year pro career, and he moved on to become a manager and coach in the Yankees’ farm system himself, also working as a catching instructor in intermittent fashion with the big league club from 1992-95 (when Showalter was New York’s manager).
This led to Showalter hiring Sherlock for the inaugural Diamondbacks coaching staff in 1998, and while Arizona fired Showalter following the 2000 campaign, Sherlock became a fixture of the D-backs staff. Sherlock spent 19 years in various coaching capacities with the Diamondbacks before spending three seasons (2017-19) with the Mets as their third base coach, first base coach and catching instructor.
Sherlock is therefore a familiar face for both Showalter and for the Mets front office, making the 61-year-old a logical choice to serve as Showalter’s chief lieutenant. Interestingly, Sherlock doesn’t fit the model of the “younger, analytics-driven individual” the Mets were reportedly looking to hire for the position, although the club did seek out several names that did fit that description. Reds planning/outfield coach Jeff Pickler, Padres quality control coach Ryan Flaherty and Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey were all on the Mets’ radar, although the Padres and Giants denied permission for interviews, and Pickler removed his name from consideration.
As one might expect following a managerial change, the Mets’ coaching staff will have a fresh look in 2022. Sherlock, hitting coach Eric Chavez, first base coach Wayne Kirby and third base coach Joey Cora are all new members of Showalter’s staff, and it is possible more hires may still be coming as the Mets figure out the exact size and composition of their coaching mix.
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