The New York Mets have recently appointed two key figures to their coaching staff: Jeff Albert has been named the director of major league hitting, and Kai Correa will take on the role of bench coach. These strategic additions aim to enhance the team’s performance in the upcoming season.
Mets Appoint Jeff Albert as Hitting Coach
Jeff Albert transitions from his role as the director of hitting development, a position he has held since 2023. As the new hitting coach, he will oversee the major league team’s hitting program. Reports suggest that he will be joined by another hitting coach, who will report directly to him.
Previously, Albert served as the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He also spent time in the Houston Astros organization, where he worked alongside David Stearns. Despite the Mets’ underwhelming performance in the previous season, the team’s minor league system received recognition, ranking first according to ESPN. However, in farm system hitting rankings, they concluded the season in 11th place as reported by Baseball America.
Albert takes the reins after the departure of co-hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes. Chavez recently expressed concerns over multiple coaching voices in the organization, stating that it can confuse players. However, it’s common for teams to employ several coaches in this area.
Kai Correa Joins Coaching Staff
Kai Correa has been appointed as the Mets’ new bench coach. The 37-year-old comes from a diverse coaching background, having spent the last two years with the Cleveland Guardians. Initially joining as the major league field coordinator, he later took on responsibilities related to defense, baserunning, and game strategy.
Before his time in Cleveland, Correa served as Gabe Kapler’s bench coach with the San Francisco Giants from 2020 to 2023. He hails from Hawaii and played college baseball at the University of Puget Sound.
Coaching Profiles
- Jeff Albert:
- Position: Director of Major League Hitting
- Previous Roles: Hitting Coach for St. Louis Cardinals
- Background: Over 20 years in baseball development, including time with the Astros
- Kai Correa:
- Position: Bench Coach
- Previous Roles: Major League Field Coordinator and Game Strategy Director for Cleveland
- Background: Bench Coach for San Francisco Giants and played at the University of Puget Sound
With these new appointments, the Mets are clearly focused on bolstering their coaching framework and improving their performance in the 2024 season.
