The New York Mets finalized the hire of Johnny Washington as co-hitting coach this week, according to MLB.com. Washington, 42, will share hitting coach duties with Troy Snitker, who the Mets opted to retain after his first season on the job.
The move fills out a reshuffled offensive coaching staff for a team that finished tied for 23rd in OPS and tied for 20th in runs scored last season. Washington arrives with experience across five major league organizations and a direct connection to Mets manager Andy Green.
The Main Development
Washington spent 2026 as the Atlanta Braves’ Minor League hitting coordinator, a role that had him working with hitters at every level of that organization. Before that stop, he held jobs in the Angels, Cubs, Padres and Dodgers systems, including a stint as the Angels’ lead hitting coach in Anaheim.
His history with Green dates back to San Diego, where the two worked together from 2017 to 2019. Washington began that run as the Padres’ first-base coach in 2017 before moving into the hitting coach chair in 2019. He also spent time coaching hitters in Korea and played five minor league seasons as a Rangers and Dodgers farmhand from 2003 to 2009.
What It Means For The Mets’ Staff
Pairing Washington with Snitker gives the Mets a co-hitting coach structure rather than a single lead voice in that room, a departure from how the position was staffed under Jeff Albert, who was let go as director of hitting after just one season. Rafael Fernandez is also returning to New York as an assistant hitting coach, adding another familiar face to the mix.
The broader staff overhaul includes Mariano Duncan’s promotion to assistant coach and the hiring of A.J. Ellis as Major League strategy coordinator, replacing Danny Barnes. Taken together, the changes point to a front office willing to restructure multiple layers of its coaching hierarchy after a season in which the lineup’s production lagged much of the league.
Ties To Current Mets Players
Washington’s path through four organizations has already put him in the same clubhouse as two current Mets. He coached Jared Young during his time with the Cubs and worked with Luis Torrens in San Diego, giving him some existing familiarity with players he will now oversee at the major league level.
What’s Next
No specific details on Washington’s hitting philosophy or how the co-hitting coach arrangement with Snitker will divide responsibilities have been made public. The Mets’ coaching staff now includes Washington, Snitker, Fernandez, Duncan and Ellis heading into the offseason, with further staffing or roster moves expected as New York prepares for the 2027 season.
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