The Washington Nationals have hired Gary DiSarcina away from the New York Mets to be their new third base coach, according to multiple reports.
DiSarcina, 53, will replace Bob Henley, who was reassigned last month to a player development role within the organization.
DiSarcina, who played in the big leagues for 12 years, has been in front office and coaching roles in professional baseball for 20 years. He was the Mets’ bench coach in 2018 and then the team’s third base coach for the past three seasons.
The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty was the first to report the hire. The Nationals have not officially announced their full staff for 2022.
DiSarcina played all 12 of his major league seasons with the Angels from 1989-2000. He was a .258 career hitter as a slick-gloved shortstop.
After he retired, he spent time as a consultant for the Red Sox front office. His coaching career began in 2007 as a minor league manager in Boston’s system. He managed for four years in the minors and was the 2013 Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America.
He interviewed for the Seattle Mariners’ managerial opening in 2013 before joining the Angels’ major-league staff as Mike Scioscia’s third base coach. After two years at third, he was moved over to first base for one season. In 2017, he was Boston’s bench coach before spending the next four seasons with the Mets.
The hire comes a week after the team was reported to bringing on former journeyman outfielder Eric Young Jr. to be its first base coach. Young, 36, is replacing Randy Knorr, who was also reassigned to a player development role with the club.
DiSarcina and Young join hitting coach Darnell Coles as the team’s new coaching hires. Coles was hired last week to replace Kevin Long, who was hired away by Philadelphia after spending the previous four seasons with the Nationals.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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