Blue Jays announce 2018 minor league managers and coaching staff

The Blue Jays have announced their minor league managers and coaching staff for 2018 with the headline move (if there’s such a thing as a headline move for minor league coaches) being the promotion of A-Advanced Dunedin manager John Schneider to double-A New Hampshire.

Toronto also announced the promotion of Mike Mordecai as the Blue Jays’ new quality control coach, replacing Derek Shelton.

We had already known about the departures of Gary Allenson, Willie Collazo, and Rich Miller prior to today’s news release. In addition to them, Ronnie Ortegon (2017 New Hampshire hitting coach) has also left the organization.

It had been assumed that Tim Raines had left the Blue Jays organization when he joined the White Sox as a team ambassador. Even though Raines has left the Jays’ coaching ranks, he is still employed by the club as as a special assistant.

Other changes of note:

• Corey Hart was sent to the Arizona Fall League as the Peoria Javelinas’ hitting coach, winning the AFL championship along with several Jays prospects. He has moved up to triple-A Buffalo from Dunedin.
• Hart’s appointment as the Bisons’ hitting coach displaces Devon White to position player coach in Buffalo.
• Mordecai and Raines’ former positions of assistant field coordinator and outfield & baserunning coordinator, respectively, both remain vacant for 2018. The rest of the coordinator roles remain the same save for the appointment of Guillermo Martinez to the new role of hitting coordinator.
• 7 coaches will be making their debut in the Blue Jays organization: Hunter Mense (New Hampshire hitting coach), Casey Candaele (Dunedin manager), Matt Young (Lansing hitting coach), Dallas McPherson (Vancouver manager), George Carroll (GCL position coach), and Mark Worrell (GCL assistant pitching coach), Guillermo Martinez (roving hitting coordinator).

2018 Blue Jays Minor League Managers and Coaches

2018 Blue Jays Minor League Coordinators