Getting To Know New Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza

Yesterday, the New York Mets made the decision to hire Carlos Mendoza as the team’s 24th manager in franchise history, as reported by numerous outlets. Mendoza replaces Buck Showalter, who was let go by incoming president of baseball operations David Stearns, after two seasons at the helm.

This hiring makes Mendoza the second full-time, Venezuelan-born manager in MLB history—the first being Ozzie Guillen with the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.

The 43-year-old Mendoza arrives in Queens after a 15-year stint with the Yankees organization, where he held various positions. This included managing in the lower minor leagues from 2011 to 2012 and serving as Aaron Boone’s bench coach for the past four seasons.

This is Mendoza’s first major league managing job, after interviewing previously for the Guardians, Tigers, Red Sox, and White Sox.

Minor League Roots

Mendoza’s journey in professional baseball began when he entered the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants at the age of 17 from Venezuela. The high point of his playing career came in 2003 when he reached Triple-A with Fresno. Following a brief stint in independent baseball for two seasons, Mendoza found a home with the Advanced-A+ Tampa team in 2006. He dedicated four years to the New York Yankees’ minor league system, reaching Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009.

Upon concluding his playing career, Mendoza transitioned into coaching within the Yankees organization starting in 2009. His managerial experience includes leading the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2011 and the Single-A Charleston River Dogs in 2012.

Major League Experience

Having spent more than a decade as a minor league player with the Yankees and Giants, Mendoza transitioned into coaching with the Yankees, impressing the organization with his knowledge of the game and his ability to impart wisdom to players. He joined the major league staff in 2018 and became Boone’s right-hand man. He also filled a similar role for Team Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

He began his coaching journey in the Yankees’ Minor League system in 2009 as a member of the Staten Island Yankees coaching staff before moving to the Charleston RiverDogs in 2010. In 2011, he managed the Gulf Coast League Yankees and later returned to manage the RiverDogs in 2012. After the 2012 season, he assumed the role of a roving defensive instructor in the Yankees’ organization.

Following the 2017 season, Mendoza earned a promotion to the Yankees’ major league coaching staff as an infield coach. He was then named the bench coach in 2019. He also assumed the role of quality control coach within his other duties with the Yankees as well.

Although not an official tally, Mendoza has managed a major league before. Throughout his role as a bench coach, he stepped in for Aaron Boone on 24 occasions following ejections and took over twice during Boone’s suspensions, as noted by David Lennon of Newsday.

What Mendoza Brings To The Table

With an extensive background in player development during his years with the Yankees, Mendoza is highly regarded in the industry for his attention to detail and evidence-based decision-making.

Those who know Mendoza well heavily attest to his calm demeanor and experience as a trusted assistant in New York, which many believe will help him handle pressure situations. As noted by Will Sammon of The Athletic, Mendoza enjoyed widespread respect within the Yankees’ organization, from the front office to the players. In 2021, Yankees’ general manager Cashman expressed his confidence in Mendoza’s managerial potential, suggesting that he would excel when the opportunity arose.

Mendoza’s roots in player development remained strong even in his role as Boone’s right-hand man in the dugout. He provided hands-on guidance, hitting ground balls before every game. Spanish-speaking Yankees, in particular, regarded Mendoza as a mentor and a trusted confidant in the clubhouse. Many Yankees players praised his teaching style and communication skills, particularly in the context of understanding the modern game and explaining the significance of analytics, as observed by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.

Matt Kardos, the beat writer for the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees Double-A affiliate, notes that in speaking with several former Yankees prospects who had the opportunity to work closely with Mendoza says that the resounding sentiment from these conversations has been one of high acclaim and respect. It’s clear that Mendoza is a manager and person, who resonates with and earns the admiration of his players.

Andy Martino of SNY notes that while Mendoza has shown himself to be a pleasant and amicable individual, he’s also unafraid to play the role of the stern authority figure when both he and Aaron Boone saw something they didn’t agree upon. Mendoza doesn’t shy away from addressing player concerns or conveying their dissatisfaction.

On top of this, both Steve Cohen and David Stearns must have had great interviews with Mendoza, too—good enough to give the Mets’ decision makers the confidence to not get into an all-out bidding war for Craig Counsell.

Mets Brass Giving Mendoza A Chance

Giving the managerial position to a first-timer carries a certain level of risk, especially in New York. Time and results on the field will tell if Mendoza’s appointment will bring different results this time around, under the leadership of Mets’ head, Stearns, who has a track record of making strong hires but has never hired a manager before.

The Mets and David Stearms must feel confident enough in Mendoza’s ability to manage, as Stearns noted in his press conference that he sees the managerial position “as one of true partnership…someone who is working side by side with me and the rest of our baseball ops group.”

That being said, Mendoza has a lot to bring to the table and the Mets and Stearns feel comfortable enough in their decision. First-time managers in Queens haven’t had a strong track record of late, but this is a new era of Mets leadership.