Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Reds’ game planning and outfield coach Jeff Pickler is a candidate for the Mets’ bench coach position. Rosenthal notes that there’s other candidates and the Mets are still going through the process.
Pickler, 45, has been with the Reds organization since 2019 in his current role. The former 11th round pick of the Brewers spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Twins as their outfield coach and coordinator of Major League development, a position in which he advised all coaches and players on game preparation and strategy and coordinated the communication between Minnesota’s Major League staff and player development.
The California native also worked for the Padres as a special assignment scout (2010, 2012-2014), for the Angels as minor league infield coordinator (2011) and for the Dodgers as a special assistant in their scouting and player development departments (2015-2016).
Mets assistant GM Ben Zauzmer worked as an analyst with the Dodgers during the same period Pickler was there. Zauzmer was recently promoted to assistant GM after getting his start with the Mets running their research and development department.
Pickler retired in 2005 after spending eight seasons in the minors with the Brewers, Rangers, and Rockies organizations.
Pickler graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Tennessee. He also earned a master’s degree from National University in teaching and learning.
The Mets continue their search to round out Buck Showalter‘s staff after reportedly hiring Joey Cora to be the third base coach, Wayne Kirby to be the first base coach, and sniping Eric Chavez from the Yankees to be their hitting coach. Jeremy Hefner will continue on as the pitching coach. Hefner was an advanced scout with the Twins the same two seasons that Pickler was on the Minnesota coaching staff as well.
