The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reports that the Red Sox are parting ways with six coaches under manager Alex Cora. The departing coaches include first base coach Andy Fox, bullpen coach Kevin Walker, assistant hitting coach Luis Ortiz, mental skills coach Rey Fuentes, trainer Ben Chadwick, and bullpen catcher Mani Martinez.
Fox, who was promoted to first base coach last season after serving as the field coordinator, has been with the organization for over a decade. He played in the major leagues for nine seasons, primarily with the Diamondbacks and Marlins.
Ortiz, a former Red Sox player in the mid-1990s, has been the assistant hitting coach for three years. He previously held the lead hitting coach role with the Texas Rangers. Ben Rosenthal has worked alongside Ortiz in Boston as an assistant to primary hitting coach Peter Fatse.
Walker was named bullpen coach during the 2020-21 offseason after working as an assistant pitching coach. Despite the bullpen’s struggles, with a high ERA and low strikeout rate this season, the coaching changes extend beyond the pitching staff. The front office will also need to address issues with player acquisitions that did not pan out as expected.
Ultimately, the bullpen’s performance was a major factor in the Red Sox missing the Wild Card race. The team will be seeking new coaching leadership to strengthen the bullpen and support key players like Justin Slaten and Liam Hendriks in the upcoming season.
