Nationals' Major League coaching staff to return for 2025

BALTIMORE -- Prior to the 121st game of the season, manager Dave Martinez announced the Nationals' Major League coaching staff will return for 2025.

“Yesterday, we signed all our coaches back for one more year -- and I think it’s awesome,” Martinez said Wednesday. “These guys have worked really hard every day to try to get these young guys better. They’ve done a great job, so I’m really proud of them and I wanted to bring them back. Working really hard with [general manager Mike Rizzo] and ownership, they also felt the same way about these guys, so they’re all coming back.”

The contracts of bench coach Miguel Cairo, hitting coach Darnell Coles, pitching coach Jim Hickey, first-base coach Gerardo Parra, third-base coach Ricky Gutierrez, catching and strategy coach Henry Blanco, bullpen coach Ricky Bones, pitching strategist Sean Doolittle and assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson were renewed for next season.

“I really wanted to get it done now,” Martinez said. “This way, there’s a little bit of unity and all the guys know that they’ll be back. Instead of doing it at the end of the year, I really felt like this is a good core, we work really good together and they’re doing a great job with our kids. For me, it was important to get it done as soon as possible.”

Blanco was the Nats' bullpen coach from 2018-21 prior to stepping into his current role in ‘22. Hickey was hired by the Nationals in 2021. The following season, Coles and Bones joined the staff.

Gutierrez was the Nationals' run prevention coordinator in 2023. Cairo, Parra, Doolittle and Johnson are in their first seasons on the Nationals' staff.

“These guys understand, they get it,” Martinez said. “Some of these guys are not that far removed from the game. They understand players really well. It’s a great continuity with these guys and what they’re doing and what they’re bringing to the club.”

Martinez emphasized the importance of continuity in the development of a young core. He lauded the staff’s dedication to furthering the growth of the organization. Seven players have made their Major League debuts this season.

“We’ve got such a young group,” said Martinez. “You look at what CJ [Abrams has] done -- he’s been an All-Star. You look at what [James] Wood’s doing now and some of these other guys that we’ve had. I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”