The Mets have promoted Mariano Duncan to their coaching staff in the newly created role of Major League coach, according to a person familiar with the plans. Duncan will help the team’s position players in multiple areas, while also serving as a batting-practice pitcher. The club has not confirmed the hire.
With Duncan in the fold, the Mets’ coaching staff will grow by one. The team is still searching for a hitting coach to replace Jeff Albert, with Kevin Long and John Mallee as candidates, as well as a quality assurance coach to replace Danny Barnes. The Mets parted ways with those two and batting-practice pitcher Kevin Mahoney after the season.
Duncan, 63, had served as the Double-A Binghamton bench coach for the past five seasons and has been in the organization for eight. Among the position players to come through Binghamton during that time were Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.
As a player for 12 Major League seasons, Duncan won World Series titles with the Reds in 1990 and the Yankees in '96. He also won the 1993 National League pennant with the Phillies and was in the Dodgers’ organization during their 1988 championship season.
After the Double-A season ended in September, the Mets promoted Duncan to their Major League staff on a temporary basis. That assignment has since become permanent.