The New York Mets have chosen who will be their new hitting coach, and he was a key member of the coaching staff for the Houston Astros dynasty at the start of the decade.
This has been an eventful few weeks for the Mets since they completed a shocking collapse in September. Immediately after they missed the playoffs last month, the organization decided to clean house of much of their coaching staff. However, manager Carlos Mendoza remained.
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One of the major departures that was universally wanted by fans was the ouster of hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes. There has been a lot of speculation about who could replace them in that key role, including team great Carlos Beltran. Well, the answer came down on Monday morning, and it will likely be a name fans did not expect.
According to SNY Mets insider Andy Martino, former Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker will join the Mets staff starting next season. So, was it the right move?
Grading the New York Mets’ decision to hire Troy Snitker
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
There are sure to be Mets fans disappointed that the team did not get a name they are familiar with to be their new hitting coach. However, the assistants on MLB coaching staffs are often individuals who are not known to casual fans.
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But Snitker does have a good resume. Obviously, his name is one Mets fans know because his father, Brian Snitker, was one of the best managers in Atlanta Braves history until he stepped down from the job after this season.
His son Troy has been in the Astros system since 2016 and became the hitting coach in 2019. So he was a key part of the staff that helped lead Houston to three World Series trips and one win over a four-year period. In 2019 and 2021, Houston was either first or second in team batting average and OPS, and in 2023 and 2024, they were top five in average in the league.
However, after a so-so season at the plate and missing the playoffs in 2025, Snitker was one of the coaches who had to take a fall, and he was fired after this season. Considering what he did with a strong veteran Astros lineup for many years, he is a great choice for a talented Mets lineup in 2026.
Mets Troy Snitker hire grade: B+
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