Diamondbacks Hire Joe Mather as Hitting Coach
The search for a new Arizona Diamondbacks hitting coach is over. Thursday afternoon, the team announced the hiring of Joe Mather, who served as the assistant director of hitting for the Cincinnati Reds over the past two seasons. Mather will be coming home, as he is a 2001 graduate of Phoenix’s Mountain Pointe High School.
Mather has worked for the Diamondbacks organization before (2015-19). His most recent stint was as the Minor League Field/Hitting Coordinator in 2019. However, he also has managed. From 2015-16, he was the manager of the Rookie-Advanced Missoula Osprey. During his first season, the Osprey won the Pioneer League championship. He also coached the Double-A Jackson Generals in 2017 and the Single-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide in 2018.
Under Mather’s tutelage in Cincinnati, the Reds finished 2020 15th in the National League (out of 15) in batting average (.212), tied for 12th in on-base percentage (.312, along with the Diamondbacks), ninth in slugging percentage (.403), and eighth in wOBA (.312). In 2021, the Reds improved to second in batting average (.249), fourth in on-base percentage (.328), third in slugging percentage (.431), and second in wOBA (.327).
Eight members of Arizona’s current 40-man roster played for Mather, so there will be a sense of familiarity for some.
Mather is replacing co-hitting coaches Rick Short and Drew Hedman, who took over in June of 2021 after the dismissal of hitting coach Darnell Coles and assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske.
This is a developing story. More details will be released as they come. Check back for updates.
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