The Mets are reportedly interviewing Jeremy Hefner for pitching coach, according to a recent report from Marc Carig of The Athletic.
Hefner has connections to the Mets, as he pitched 50 games (36 starts) for them between the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He spent time in the Padres and Cardinals organizations as well during his career, before retiring as a player in 2012.
He posted a 4.65 ERA in 224.1 innings with the Mets, but his career was shortened due to his having to undergo two Tommy John surgeries.
After retiring, he joined the Twins as an advance scout, and was named their assistant pitching coach prior to the 2019 season.
In Carig’s recent article for The Athletic, he mentioned that Hefner is viewed as a “conduit” within the industry, and “is capable of blending practical experience with a deep knowledge of data-driven techniques.”
At 33, Hefner is young enough to still be pitching, and is an up-and-coming who would make a good potential fit as a pitching coach for any club.
His youth and connections with the organization could make him an especially good fit for the Mets, who fired Dave Eiland midseason last year and replaced him with the 82-year-old Phil Regan on an interim basis. Hefner, who are the Mets are now interviewing for the position, could potentially be a long term solution for that role.
