Juan Soto’s Former Mentor Emerges as Mets’ Top Hitting Target
Front office targets veteran instructor to support Juan Soto after two straight seasons missing the playoffs
The New York Mets are interviewing Kevin Long on Tuesday for a vacancy on their hitting staff, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The timing points directly to an effort to stabilize Juan Soto’s environment after consecutive seasons without October baseball.
Long spent four years working with Soto in Washington before moving to Philadelphia. That relationship outlasted both men’s tenures with the Nationals. Reuniting them in Queens addresses a specific organizational need rather than filling a generic roster spot on a coaching staff undergoing its second structural shift in two years.
Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets ahead of the 2025 season. The franchise has not reached the postseason since. Offensive production remains the primary bottleneck. Bringing in a 59-year-old instructor who won World Series titles with the Yankees in 2009 and the Nationals in 2019 signals President of Baseball Operations David Stearns is prioritizing proven track records over internal continuity.
Three coaches were told they would not return to their 2027 roles on Oct. 6: director of major league hitting Jeff Albert, quality assurance coach Danny Barnes, and batting practice pitcher Kevin Mahoney, SNY reported. The organization left open the possibility that some could return in different capacities.
Troy Snitker is expected to remain as hitting coach. How responsibilities would be divided between Snitker and Long — if hired — is unresolved, according to Puma.
This represents a targeted adjustment following last year’s complete teardown. Jeremy Hefner, Jeremy Barnes, Eric Chavez, Antoan Richardson, Mike Sarbough, John Gibbons, and Glenn Sherlock all departed ahead of the 2026 campaign. Manager Carlos Mendoza was fired by Stearns in late June and replaced by Andy Green. Mendoza recently joined the Phillies as their infield and third base coach.
Long’s career spans two decades across four NL East rivals. He started with the Yankees in 2007, moved to the Mets from 2015 to 2017, then helped guide the Nationals to a championship. His stint in Philadelphia ended abruptly. The Phillies fired him despite having him under contract through 2028.
His original departure from New York came after he was passed over for the managerial opening prior to the 2018 season. Eight years later, the Mets are operating under a different front office with a vastly larger payroll commitment riding on offensive output.
