Blue Jays Revamp Coaching Staff, Expanding Expertise for 2024 Season
Toronto Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins Announced Additions to Coaching Roster Alongside Continued Restructuring
The Toronto Blue Jays are staying active during the offseason, adding two new coaches to the roster while actively searching for additional talent, General Manager Ross Atkins announced on Tuesday.
The Blue Jays welcomed Graham Johnson as the new bullpen coach, filling the position vacated by Jeff Ware. Johnson brings three years of experience as pitching coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate. Prior to that, he honed his skills as the pitching coach for the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks, in both the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
Johnson will be working alongside pitching coach Pete Walker and, pending a successful interview process, a new pitching assistant yet to be named.
The Blue Jays’ hitting department is also experiencing an influx of talent with the addition of Lou Ionnatti as a hitting assistant coach. Ionnatti brings his expertise after serving as the hitting coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system.
He joins the returning Hunter Mense as assistant hitting coaches, working under the guidance of new hitting coach David Popkins.
In addition to these appointments, the Blue Jays are currently evaluating whether to bring in a new field coordinator.
Gil Kim, whose contract expired at the end of the season, will remain with the organization, assuming a dual role. During the season, he will manage the team’s Low-A affiliate, the Dunedin Blue Jays. In the off-season, his focus will shift to coordinating efforts for players on the 40-man roster.
David Howell, who served as the club’s assistant pitching coach – strategy last year, has received a front-office job offer. However, he is currently exploring other opportunities. Ware, who still has a year remaining on his contract, is actively pursuing other possible placements within the baseball world.
“We’re excited to welcome Graham and Lou to the coaching staff,” Atkins stated. “Their experience and knowledge will be invaluable assets to our team. We are also continuing our search for a pitching assistant and are confident we will find the right fit to contribute to our success.”
The ongoing changes reflect the Blue Jays’ commitment to building a robust and highly competent coaching staff to support the team’s pursuit of championship ambitions.
How might the influx of new coaches impact the team’s dynamics and overall performance?
## Blue Jays Bring in New Blood: An Interview with Our Baseball Analyst
**Host:** Welcome back to the show, baseball fans! Today, we have our resident baseball expert, [Guest Name], here to discuss the Blue Jays’ recent coaching shakeup. Ross Atkins announced some additions to the coaching staff this week – what are your thoughts?
**Guest:** Thanks for having me! It’s definitely an interesting move by the Blue Jays, especially with the focus on bullpen improvements. Bringing in Graham Johnson, who has solid experience developing pitching talent in both Double-A and Triple-A, shows a commitment to addressing their bullpen woes.
**Host:** Johnson comes from the Yankees organization. Do you see any potential overlap in philosophies or strategies that he might bring to Toronto?
**Guest:** Absolutely. Johnson’s experience with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees’ Triple-A team, likely exposed him to their development system and pitching philosophies. It’ll be intriguing to see if he adapts those strategies to the Blue Jays bullpen.[[1](https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-promote-triple-a-bisons-hitting-coach-matt-hague-to-major-league-coaching-staff)]
**Host:** The announcement also mentions that they are still actively searching for additional coaching talent. Any speculation on what positions they’re targeting?
**Guest:** I wouldn’t be surprised if they prioritize a hitting coach, given the offensive struggles they faced this past season. Additionally, a first base coach who can bring some experience and a different perspective wouldn’t hurt.
**Host:** Exciting times ahead for the Blue Jays, then?
**Guest:** Definitely! These moves show that the front office is committed to building a competitive team for next season. Adding experienced coaches like Johnson and potentially others is a step in the right direction. It will be fascinating to see how the team evolves under new leadership.
**Host:** Thanks for sharing your insights, [Guest Name]! We’ll be keeping a close eye on these developments.
