Mets To Add A.J. Ellis To Coaching Staff

The Mets are hiring former big league catcher A.J. Ellis as major league strategy coordinator, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. He’ll be on Andy Green’s coaching staff. Ellis logged parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues during his playing career. He spent the vast majority of that time as a backup with the Dodgers. Ellis was highly regarded as a game-caller behind the plate and forged a strong battery with Clayton Kershaw throughout the best seasons of Kershaw’s future Hall of Fame career. The former 18th-round pick also played for the Phillies and Marlins before finishing his career with the Padres in 2018. That was Green’s penultimate season as San Diego’s manager. Ellis jumped right into a front office role with the Padres after that season. His special assistant role in San Diego is the extent of his post-playing experience, but Ellis received some attention from the White Sox during their managerial search in 2024. He’ll now reunite with Green as he makes the move into coaching. Ellis is the second addition to the Mets’ staff, as they also tabbed Mariano Duncan for an unspecified role last month. They’re still looking to add another voice on the offensive side after removing director of hitting Jeff Albert from the coaching staff at season’s end. View Comments (1)