The Cleveland Guardians revealed some coaching staff-related news on Wednesday.
Perhaps the most important is the promotion of Grant Fink from his work on the minor leagues to hitting coach for the MLB team.
Since losing Chris Valaika to the Cincinnati Reds, the Guardians were looking for someone to fill his position in the majors and have found their candidate by promoting from within.
That wasn’t the only move they made on Wednesday, though.
The return of Carl Willis as pitching coach is huge.
He has been one of the architects of the most consistent pitching factory in the last decade, at least in the American League.
Additionally, the Guards promoted Craig Albernaz.
“Guardians coaching staff updates: -Grant Fink will be the hitting coach. He was Cleveland’s Minor League hitting coordinator the last three seasons. -Carl Willis is back as pitching coach. -Craig Albernaz promoted to assistant manager,” team insider Mandy Bell posted on X.
Guardians coaching staff updates:
-Grant Fink will be the hitting coach. He was Cleveland’s Minor League hitting coordinator the last three seasons.
-Carl Willis is back as pitching coach.
-Craig Albernaz promoted to assistant manager
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) November 13, 2024
Albernaz flirted with two managerial positions in the offseason: the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox.
At one point, however, he took his name from consideration for both roles and opted to stay in Cleveland, getting some valuable experience alongside Stephen Vogt.
He was the team’s bench coach last year, but now, he will be the assistant manager.
The position is trending around the league, being somewhere in between a bench coach and a manager in terms of responsibilities and duties.
It is, in essence, a promotion.
Albernaz is highly regarded in MLB circles and could be a solid manager one day.
For now, the Guardians will continue to enjoy his services in the coaching staff with a brand new role.
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