Yankees Look to New Coaching Staff to Support Developing Talent.

Several members of the New York Yankees will see familiar faces when they arrive for the upcoming season, as the team has reshaped Aaron Boone’s coaching staff following its exit in the American League Division Series. At the direction of general manager Brian Cashman, the Yankees moved on from bullpen coach Mike Harkey, first base and infield coach Travis Chapman, and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, though the organization has not ruled out a different role for Roessler in the future. Among the new additions is Desi Druschel, who returns to the Yankees as an assistant pitching coach after spending the previous season with the Mets. Preston Claiborne, who had served alongside Druschel before, will now take over as bullpen coach. The Yankees also promoted Dan Fiorito and Jake Hirst, both longtime members of the organization’s player development system. Fiorito replaces Chapman and adds responsibility as the team’s baserunning coach, while Hirst steps into the assistant hitting coach role. Though both are first-time major league coaches, they bring extensive experience working with Yankees prospects in the minor leagues. Notably, they previously coached several young players currently on the major league roster, including Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Jasson Domínguez, and Ben Rice. While those players have experienced uneven results at the major league level, they excelled in the minors during their time under Fiorito and Hirst. Boone acknowledged that this familiarity played a role in the promotions, though he emphasized that the organization’s priority was identifying the most effective coaching candidates overall.

Hirst joined the Yankees in 2018 and most recently served as the club’s minor league hitting coordinator. His background includes coaching at multiple levels of the farm system, as well as helping develop prospects such as Spencer Jones. After receiving interest from another major league team earlier this offseason, the Yankees moved quickly to retain him, backed by strong support from lead hitting coach James Rowson. Fiorito’s path to the major leagues is especially personal. A Yonkers native and lifelong Yankees fan, he played in the organization’s farm system from 2013 to 2016 after signing as an undrafted free agent. He later transitioned into coaching, managing at both High-A and Double-A levels and coordinating infield and outfield instruction across the system. One of Fiorito’s major responsibilities will be helping Volpe regain his defensive form once he returns from shoulder surgery. Volpe won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2023, but his defensive performance declined significantly this past season. Fiorito will also focus on improving the team’s baserunning, an area that managing partner Hal Steinbrenner publicly criticized after a costly year.

To support those efforts, Boone noted that Ryan Hunt—another internal promotion—will assist Fiorito in an advisory capacity.

Hunt previously served as a minor league infield and outfield coordinator.

Boone expressed confidence that the revamped coaching structure will better maximize the Yankees’ athleticism and help the team strike a smarter balance between aggression and discipline on the bases. The organization hopes these changes will translate into improved performance and more consistent development from its young core.