Diamondbacks hire Joe Mather to take over as new hitting coach

The Arizona Diamondbacks hired Joe Mather to be the team’s hitting coach, the team announced Thursday.

Mather, 39, previously spent five years coaching in the D-backs organization before getting hired by the Cincinnati Reds as an assistant hitting coach and director of hitting in 2020.

The Reds scored the ninth-most runs in Major League Baseball and were seventh in hits this past year. Meanwhile Arizona ranked 25th in scoring in 2021.

“I believe in hitting hard line drives both outcome-wise and mentally having that approach,” Mather told reporters Thursday.

He said he believes that having an approach to hit line drives will lead to home runs and better plate discipline.

The new hitting coach managed both Rookie Advanced Missoula (2015-2016) and Single-A Advanced Visalia (2018) in Arizona’s farm system. He also coached for Double-A Jackson, the Diamondbacks former affiliate club.

Mather will reunite with several D-backs players whom he coached in the Minor Leagues, including infielder/outfielder Pavin Smith and catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho.

“I certainly felt like I had a connection with Joe,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Thursday. “I really believe in what he was talking about with organizational philosophy, with the connection to the players, the order of his priorities in establishing a relationship and bond with his players. It was evident to me that he was going to be able to take our hitting program to the next level.”

Mather attended Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee, Arizona. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals straight out of high school in 2001. Mather played in 229 career MLB games for the Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves.

The D-backs still need to find their next pitching coach after removing Matt Herges from that role.

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