Mets promote Mariano Duncan to big league staff

Joel Sherman had it first on Monday afternoon, and his read on the role is broad on purpose.

Joel Sherman

@Joelsherman1

Source: The Mets have hired Mariano Duncan to join their major league coaching staff. He is expected to help in multiple areas with the position player group.

"Multiple areas" is the key phrase. According to MLB.com, the title is Major League coach, a role that didn't exist on the staff until now. Duncan will work with the position players in a few different ways and also throw batting practice. Batting practice pitcher Kevin Mahoney is among the people leaving, so Duncan covers some of that work too.

Anthony DiComo confirmed it about an hour and a half later, and he framed it as a promotion, not an outside hire.

Anthony DiComo

@AnthonyDiComo

The Mets have promoted a multi-time World Series champion to their Major League staff. More on Mariano Duncan's new role and title: t.co/zrQkKHp0cH

That framing is right. Duncan, 63, has been in the Mets organization for 8 years, and MLB.com says he spent the last 5 seasons as bench coach at Double-A Binghamton. That's where a big chunk of the current young core came through: Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing all spent time on his bench. So he isn't a stranger coming in to meet the kids. He's already coached a lot of them.

The resume also plays in a big league clubhouse. Duncan played 12 seasons in the majors and won rings with the 1990 Reds and the 1996 Yankees. He also won an NL pennant with the 1993 Phillies and was in the Dodgers organization for their 1988 title. This isn't his first job on a major league staff either: he was the Dodgers' infield and first base coach from 2006 to 2010. Mets fans might feel a little weird about a beloved '96 Yankee joining the staff in Queens, but they'll get over it fast if the infield defense gets cleaner.

The bigger story is that the staff is getting rebuilt after a disappointing 2026. Hitting coach Jeff Albert and quality assurance coach Danny Barnes are both gone, and MLB.com reports Kevin Long and John Mallee are candidates to replace Albert. Duncan is the first new name on the board. The hitting coach hire is the one that will really shape the offense heading into 2027.

For now, this is a low-risk, sensible move. The Mets are promoting a guy who already knows their young hitters and fielders and giving him a job that lets him work wherever they need him. Watch for the hitting coach announcement next. That will show what the full position player group looks like around Duncan.