ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - More changes are coming to the Cardinals coaching staff.
Several weeks after it was reported earlier this month that Turner Ward would not return as the Cardinals hitting coach in 2025, the club revealed a slew of moves that will impact the big-league coaching staff for manager Oliver Marmol.
The Cardinals announced in a press release Tuesday that they have named Brant Brown as the club’s hitting coach. He replaces Turner Ward, whose contract expired and was not renewed. Brown, 53, served most recently as bench coach and offensive coordinator for the Seattle Mariners in 2024, but was fired at the end of May.
Previously, Brown was the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins in 2023 on Skip Schumaker’s staff. His resume also includes coaching stints with the Rangers and Dodgers.
Also announced Tuesday, former Cardinals outfielder and World Series champion Jon Jay joins the Cardinals staff as coach on the big-league staff following a stint in Miami under Schumaker. After the Marlins parted ways with Schumaker, Jay and dozens of other employees at the end of the season, Jay became a free agent—and it seems the Cardinals saw value in scooping him up.
ADVERTISEMENT
With Jay’s addition to the group comes the departure of Willie McGee from an everyday role in the dugout. McGee, 65, has decided to step away from his role on the big-league coaching staff but will remain with the organization as a special assistant to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.
Although changes to the Cardinals roster could potentially mean a number of mainstay players departing the club over the winter, St. Louis seems to be working behind the scenes on the coaching side to ensure whatever roster remains is put in position to succeed in 2025.
Beyond Tuesday’s coaching news, the Cardinals also announced the hiring of Rob Cerfolio as an assistant general manager. Cerfolio will lead the player development and performance department following the retirement of director of player development Gary Larocque.
The Cardinals had announced at their end-of-season press conference that Chaim Bloom would be charged with identifying Larocque’s replacement. The 32-year-old Cerfolio was poached from the Cleveland Guardians, where he served as the director of player development for the past three years.
Copyright 2024 KMOV. All rights reserved.