Pedro Guerrero joined the Dodgers’ major league staff this week as a hitting coach, replacing Aaron Bates. He brings to the role nine years of major league coaching experience and a background as a minor league player and coach within the Dodgers system.
Guerrero’s arrival follows a busy stretch for the Dodgers and related baseball news. Shohei Ohtani finished second in National League MVP voting, climbing the all-time award share rankings. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was voted fourth in the NL Cy Young Award race, and former Dodger Evan Phillips signed a three-year, $35 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.
Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic interviewed Guerrero and others about the hire. Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, formerly the Dodgers’ first base coach and minor league coordinator, praised Guerrero’s approach. McCullough said Guerrero “can meet guys where they are” and called him “a good listener.” He added, “That’s where he really does his best work. Some of those conversations, either in the cage during the day, with just trying to have a guy be in the best spot mentally that he can be for that given day. Then in the game, not letting some of the anxiety or some of the stress (pile up) for a player, he helps alleviate a lot of that.”
Guerrero’s connection to the Dodgers is longstanding. Before coaching in the majors, he played and coached in their minor league system. His experience with players’ mental preparation appears a focus of his philosophy.
While the Dodgers made this coaching change, Sam Miller at Pebble Hunting examined the Dodgers’ recent vulnerabilities. Miller detailed the many ways baseball outcomes remain unpredictable despite efforts to control variables. Davy Andrews at FanGraphs noted the Dodgers’ offseason moves and the challenges teams face when acquisitions don’t meet expectations.
For Guerrero, stepping into a hitting coach position during a period of transition offers new challenges. His work with players like Ohtani and others could shape the Dodgers’ offensive performance in the months ahead. The club’s decision to bring in a coach with Guerrero’s background reflects a desire to support players both technically and mentally.
The Dodgers have yet to announce additional changes to their coaching roster. Guerrero’s impact will likely become clearer as the season progresses and the team looks to build on its recent successes.
According to Yahoo Sports.
