Mets reassign hitting coach Lamar Johnson, assistant Luis Natera
Mets batting coach Lamar Johnson is seen in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Mets on Thursday announced coaching staff changes that had been expected since Sunday's season finale.
Hitting coach Lamar Johnson and assistant hitting coach Luis Natera will not return to the big-league staff next season. Both have been offered positions in the minor leagues.
The team has started an exhaustive search for replacements, according to a team insider, though no leading candidates have emerged.
Johnson took over for Dave Hudgens, who was fired on May 26. Natera served as assistant hitting coach since the position was created in March. Both previously worked in the Mets' minor-league system.
The Mets' offense ranked ninth in homers (125), 13th in average (.238) and eighth in runs (629) in the National League.
The Mets hired Mike Barwis to oversee the club's strength and conditioning programs. Barwis will remain as a consultant, a role he's had since 2011, but now will oversee the hiring and supervision of all strength and conditioning coaches. He has been placed in charge of designing a performance training program to be used throughout the organization.
General manager Sandy Alderson said Barwis will provide an "inclusive in-season and offseason approach to performance training, which we think will accelerate the development of our players at all levels."
The Mets said Jim Malone has left to pursue other opportunities after two years as the major-league strength and conditioning coach.
Injury updates.Jenrry Mejia had surgery for a sports hernia that plagued him for much of the season. He will begin a three-week rehab program. Travis d'Arnaud will begin a rehab process that's expected to last six to eight weeks after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow.
