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Veteran catcher Stephen Vogt joins Mariners coaching staff

Seattle Times - 1/10/2023

Jan. 10—The Mariners have finalized their major league coaching staff, returning the entire field staff from the 2022 team that made the postseason while also adding another coach and making slight changes to team roles.

"I'm thrilled that we're able to return our entire coaching staff for the 2023 season," manager Scott Servais said in the news release. "Our coaches did a tremendous job helping our players improve and prepare every day in 2022, and they deserve a lot of credit for the success we had."

Returning in their same roles are:

* Pete Woodworth, pitching coach

* Tony Arnerich, hitting coach

* Jarret DeHart, hitting coach, director of hitting strategy

* Manny Acta, third base coach

* Kristopher Negron, first base coach

* Perry Hill, infield coach

* Carson Vitale, field coordinator

Joining the staff to serve as bullpen and quality control coach is a familiar name to Mariners and American League West followers.

Stephen Vogt, who played 10 MLB seasons as a catcher, first baseman and designated hitter for six different organizations, most notably the Oakland Athletics, will transition to coaching after his 2022 retirement.

Vogt, 38, was a two-time All-Star with the A's and played in 794 MLB games. He resides in Olympia with wife, Alissa, daughter, Payton, and sons, Clark and Bennett.

Meanwhile, Trent Blank, who served as bullpen coach last season, will transition to major league coach and director of pitching strategy. The new role will allow Blank to work in the dugout during games.

"With the addition of Stephen Vogt and a new role for Trent in 2023, we are well equipped to build on the winning foundation we have established here," Servais said. "I love working with this group, and I can't wait to get rolling again at spring training."

Besides the official field staff, the Mariners have brought back Nasusel Cabrera as batting practice catcher and Fleming Baez as bullpen catcher. The Mariners added a second bullpen catcher to the staff, with Justin Novak returning to the organization after spending last season with the Padres as an MLB coaching assistant. Novak worked for the Mariners from 2019-2021, working as an interpreter for Yusei Kikuchi and later as a coach in the player development system.

"2022 saw our organization make a real breakthrough and our major league staff deserves a lot of credit for the work they've done along the way," Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations, said in a statement. "As such, we begin 2023 with a return engagement for the entire 2022 ML staff, plus one exciting addition as we welcome Steven Vogt to the staff. As we continue to evolve as a team, we will be fortunate to do it with what I truly believe is one of the top coaching staffs in MLB. Our staff continues to feature a wonderful combination of leadership, expertise, creativity and energy that contributes to what has become a winning environment."

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