A few weeks after being given the full-time managerial role with the Toronto Blue Jays, John Schneider now has his bench coach.
This morning, it was announced that the Blue Jays had hired 61-year-old Don Mattingly to serve in the bench coach role.
Mattingly had previously served as manager of the Miami Marlins.
He had spent seven years with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team’s hitting coach and was later promoted to the managerial role in 2011.
After the hiring of Mattingly was announced, Schneider expressed his excitement for the chance to work with a legend and praised him for his many years of experience.
#BlueJays make it official: Don Mattingly is their bench coach
John Schneider: “It was great getting to know Don throughout this process & we're very excited about the experience he brings … looking forward to his impact on the players and staff as we look ahead”
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) November 30, 2022
What Mattingly Brings To Toronto
Mattingly is no stranger to winning teams.
While he only had one winning season in Miami, he earned Manager of the Year honors that season.
He also managed the Dodgers to five straight winning seasons and three National League West titles.
Prior to his time with the Dodgers, he served as the hitting coach for the New York Yankees and was later promoted to the bench coach role.
Mattingly also spent 14 seasons in the Major Leagues as a first baseman, all of which were with the Yankees.
He earned MVP honors in 1985 and was a six-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove Award winner, three-time Silver Slugger, and a batting champion in 1984.
Mattingly brings valuable experience to the Blue Jays coaching staff, which should be finalized in the coming weeks.
The Blue Jays won 92 games in 2022 and earned a Wild Card spot before being sent home by the Seattle Mariners.
NEXT: Blue Jays Announce A Notable New Coaching Hire