Mets Expected To Hire Wayne Kirby as First Base Coach

Buck Showalter’s staff is starting to come together.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets are expected to hire Wayne Kirby as their first base coach.

This is the Mets second reported coaching addition in as many days. On Tuesday it was revealed the Mets intend to hire Joey Cora as the team’s third base coach. Now the Mets have three coaches heading into the 2022 season, with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner the lone holdover from the 2021 staff.

Kirby is a former player for the Mets, playing in Queens during the 1998 season. He began his playing career in 1991 with the Cleveland Indians.

Since his playing days, Kirby has coached in the major leagues since 2011. He spent 2011-2018 in Baltimore under Showalter as the Orioles’ first base and outfield coach.

Kirby was hired by the Padres in 2019 and began coaching for them in the 2020 season under manager Jayce Tingler. He’s been their first base/outfield coach the last two seasons.

Kirby was in the running for the first base coach position with the Angels this offseason but the two sides were unable to strike a deal, leading to Kirby’s reunion with Showalter.