For the fourth time in four years, the New York Mets will be hiring a new bench coach.
As reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Mets “informed veteran bench coach Hensley Meulens he won’t be back on their staff for 2021″.
Meulens, 53, was brought on board by New York last December to head up newly-hired manager Carlos Beltran‘s staff after spending 10 seasons as the San Francisco Giants’ hitting coach, winning three World Series over that span.
Following the Curacao native’s time as a player (1989 to 1998, spent 1994 to 1996 in Japan; .220/.288/.353, 77 OPS+ in MLB), Meulens embarked on his coaching career, bouncing between minor league affiliates of Toronto and Pittsburgh before landing in San Francisco.
Mets skipper Luis Rojas, hired after Beltran’s dismissal following the fallout of his involvement in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal with a full coaching staff already in place, now has the luxury of choosing his own bench coach.
Speculation as to whom the second-year manager may bring in to fill the vacancy is expected to be wide. Former Mets star and minor-league manager Edgardo Alfonzo has been mentioned by fans on social media as a potential target — with just cause.
After leading the Short Season-A Brooklyn Cyclones to the 2019 New York-Penn League title in September 2019, the Mets dismissed Alfonzo in October of that year, informing him his contract would not be renewed.
A fan favorite with decades of professional baseball experience, Fonzie would seem like an ideal fit, but your guess is as good as ours at this point.
We’ll keep you posted with new information as it becomes available.
