TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays are promoting Guillermo Martinez to be their new hitting coach, the latest addition to new manager Charlie Montoyo’s staff, according to multiple industry sources.
He replaces Brook Jacoby, who was fired earlier this month.
The 34-year-old rejoined the Blue Jays this past season as the minor-league hitting co-ordinator after four seasons in the Chicago Cubs system as the hitting coach at high-A Myrtle Beach.
A 15th-round pick by the Marlins in 2006, Martinez spent three years in affiliated ball and played three more seasons of independent ball before joining the Blue Jays as a hitting and infield coach in 2012.
Martinez joins a transforming staff that also includes a new bench coach in Dave Hudgens and will have a new first base coach, as well, while third base coach Luis Rivera and pitching coach Pete Walker will return.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have also started revamping their pro scouting department with Fangraphs writer Carson Cistulli announcing that he is joining the staff.
The Blue Jays turned over their department in late September with an eye toward revamping the way information is synthesized and updated over the course of the season.
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