FLUSHING, NY, November 19, 2025 РThe New York Mets today announced the team's complete 2026 Major League coaching staff under third-year Manager Carlos Mendoza. Bullpen Coach Jos̩ Rosado, Rafael Fernandez, promoted to Assistant Hitting Coach, and Danny Barnes, who is now the team's Quality Assurance Coach, will return.
In addition, Pitching Coach Justin Willard, Assistant Pitching Coach Dan McKinney, Hitting Coach Troy Snitker, First Base & Outfield Coach Gilbert Gomez, Third Base & Infield Coach Tim Leiper and Catching Coach J.P. Arencibia will begin their first season with the Mets at the Major League level.
The team previously named Kai Correa and Jeff Albert as Bench Coach and Director of Major League Hitting, respectively.
2026 New York Mets Coaching Staff
| Manager: Carlos Mendoza | Director, Major League Hitting: Jeff Albert |
| Bench Coach: Kai Correa | Hitting Coach: Troy Snitker |
| Pitching Coach: Justin Willard | Assistant Hitting Coach: Rafael Fernandez |
| Assistant Pitching Coach: Dan McKinney | First Base & Outfield Coach: Gilbert Gomez |
| Bullpen Coach: José Rosado | Third Base & Infield Coach: Tim Leiper |
| Quality Assurance Coach: Danny Barnes | Catching Coach: J.P. Arencibia |
Willard, 35, most recently held the role of Director, Pitching for the Boston Red Sox. He joined the Red Sox in November of 2023 after spending the previous six years with the Minnesota Twins. The Brampton, Canada native originally joined the Twins as a Minor League Pitching Coach in 2018 before he was promoted to Minor League Pitching Coordinator in 2020. The former pitcher played collegiately at Concord University where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration and obtained his M.B.A. from Radford University. While at Radford University, Willard served as an assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator.
McKinney, 31, recently completed his third season with the Mets organization and first as Double-A Binghamton's pitching coach. He previously served as the pitching coach for High-A Brooklyn in 2024 and for Single-A St. Lucie in 2023. Prior to that, he was the pitching coach for Southeast Missouri State University for the 2022 season, where he helped guide SEMO to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship and to the NCAA Tournament. He was an assistant coach at Oakland University in 2021 and spent 2019 and 2020 as the pitching coach for Akron University. McKinney served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA where he helped Kirkwood make its first National Junior College Athletic Association World Series appearance since 1999. The former baseball player at the University of Michigan earned his bachelor's degree in political science.
Snitker, 36, spent the last seven years as the Hitting Coach with the Houston Astros. He originally joined the Astros in 2016 as a Hitting Coach in their Minor League system. Prior to coaching professionally, Snitker was a graduate assistant at the University of North Georgia, his alma mater. The son of former Braves Manager Brian Snitker was drafted by Atlanta in the 19th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Gomez, 33, recently completed his seventh season coaching in the Mets system and second as Brooklyn's manager. Last season, he guided the Cyclones to their first South Atlantic League Championship as the team finished with a 72-59 record and a perfect 4-0 mark in the playoffs. The former outfielder managed St. Lucie in 2023 after serving as their Bench Coach in 2022. He also coached with the FCL Mets (2021) and was slated to be the Bench Coach with Kingsport in 2020. He also made stops with Columbia (2019) and the DSL Mets (2018). The Dominican Republic native was the hitting coach and third base coach for the 2021 bronze medalist Dominican Republic national team in the Tokyo Olympics. In addition to his work in affiliated baseball, Gomez has served in a variety of roles in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) since 2017. He was named the Manager of Tigres Del Licey and helped guide the team to a championship in 2023 and to the championship round in 2024. The right-handed hitting outfielder played in the Mets Minor League system from 2009-15.
Leiper (LEEP-er), 59, joins the organization after spending the last two seasons as the Third Base Coach with the San Diego Padres. Prior to his time in San Diego, Leiper spent four years with the San Francisco Giants as their Coordinator of Outfield & Baserunning in their player development system. He also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays (2013-18) as their First Base Coach and Senior Advisor in player development. The Whittier, CA native began his coaching career in 1996 with the Binghamton Mets (AA). He has spent time coaching in the Minor League systems of the Montreal Expos (1998-2002), Boston Red Sox (2003), Baltimore Orioles (2004), Pittsburgh Pirates (2005-2008) and Marlins (2009-12). In addition, Leiper has served on the coaching staff for Canada in each of the last five World Baseball Classics as well as various Olympic teams, Baseball World Cups and Pan-Am Games. The former infielder/outfielder played 12 years in the Minor Leagues (1985-94), including two seasons in the Mets organization (1991 and 1996).
Arencibia, 39, enters his fourth season in the Mets organization and first at the Major League level. He spent the last three years as the Bench Coach and Assistant Hitting Coach for Triple-A Syracuse. Prior to coaching, he served as an analyst on Bally Sports Florida and Marlins Radio from 2019-2022. The former catcher played professionally for six seasons from 2010-15 with the Blue Jays (2010-2014), Rangers (2014) and Rays (2015). He slugged 80 home runs and drove in 245 RBI in 466 career games. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Blue Jays Heart and Hustle Award and was the organization's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2013. Arancibia played for the United States in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, going 1-5 in two games. The backstop was drafted by Toronto in the first round (21st overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee.
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