Mariners Finalize Coaching Staff
The Seattle Mariners revealed their 2026 coaching lineup on Friday morning, introducing three new faces to Dan Wilson’s group: bullpen coach Austin Nola, third base coach Carlos Cardoza, and field coordinator Jake McKinley. MLB Trade Rumors previously noted Nola’s upcoming role last month.
Cardoza, who turns 39 in January, lands his first position on an MLB staff. A Puerto Rico native, he has spent a decade coaching professionally, mainly within the Texas minor-league system. He has served as a minor league manager and led the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate for three seasons. Seattle needed a new third base coach to replace Kristopher Negrón, who left to become Don Kelly’s bench coach with the Pirates.
McKinley also steps into his first major league role, transitioning from college baseball after three seasons as head coach at the University of Nevada. Earlier in the week, Kendall Rogers of D1 Baseball reported that McKinley would depart Nevada to join the Mariners as field coordinator. The 2025 Mountain West Coach of the Year guided Nevada to a 19-11 conference record to clinch the regular-season title. He has prior professional experience within Milwaukee’s player development department.
The remainder of Wilson’s staff returns from the team’s ALCS run, including bench coach Manny Acta, senior director of hitting strategy Edgar Martinez, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, pitching coach Pete Woodworth, assistant pitching coach Danny Farquhar, director of pitching strategy Trent Blank, first base coach Eric Young Jr., and infield coach Perry Hill, all resuming their previous roles.
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