Former Silver Slugger Award winner and one-time MLB All-Star Edgardo Alfonzo is unlikely to have a coaching position with the New York Mets this season.
To round out their staff under new manager Buck Showalter, the Mets are reportedly expected to complete a “tricky negotiation” process and make an “exciting, headline-grabbing hire” for their bench coach. Alfonzo, who played for the Mets from 1995 until 2002, seemed like an ideal candidate.
The former infielder took over as a bench coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Single-A minor league affiliate of the Mets, in 2014. He also served as a roaming instructor for the MLB team and he eventually became head coach of the Cyclones in 2017. Even though the Cyclones won the New York – Penn League Championship in 2019, his contract was not renewed.
However, according to New York Post reporter Mike Puma, Alfonzo reached out to the organization about returning to the team either as a coach or for a role within their player development department.
Edgardo Alfonzo has reached out to the Mets hoping for a return in a coaching or player development capacity, but hasn't received any indication the organization is interested in rehiring him. Alfonzo still makes occasional appearances at Citi Field as a club ambassador.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) January 6, 2022
Alonzo, who still serves as an ambassador for the club, did not receive the news that he was hoping to hear. Joe Pantorno spoke directly to Alfonzo, who explained exactly what happened. Via amNYcom:
The former Mets All-Star infielder told amNewYork Sports on Thursday that he reached out to the team’s director of player development, Kevin Howard, about potentially rejoining the organization in some capacity. “They just didn’t have anything for me right now,” Alfonzo said.
While disappointing for Alonzo, coaching staff positions are filling out in New York.
Serving under new manager Buck Showalter, longtime Oakland A’s infielder and former Silver Slugger Award winner Eric Chavez will reportedly join the Mets as their hitting coach.
Wayne Kirby will coach first base and Joey Cora (older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora) will coach third base while Jeremy Hefner will serve as their pitching coach.
Mets current reported coaching staff looks like this:
manager – Buck Showalter
1st base coach – Wayne Kirby
3rd base coach – Joey Cora
hitting coach – Eric Chavez
pitching coaching – Jeremy Hefner— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) January 6, 2022
Still, it is a bit surprising that the Mets weren’t able to find a position for Alonzo. That’s especially notable considering how much of a fan favorite he was, how much experience he has as a coach, and how many ties he has to the team.
His older brother, Edgar Alfonzo, was a manager for four different minor league teams in the Mets organization. Edgardo’s other brother, Roberto, played in the minor leagues for the Mets. Edgardo’s son, Daniel, was drafted by the Mets in 2017.
Last season, Edgardo was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
[listicle id=1080396]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09p3bf720d8rg02 player_id=01f1jz39sevw828w2p image=https://ftw.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]