The Red Sox have made some significant changes to their coaching staff, announcing three new interim positions. José David Flores steps in as the interim bench coach, while Pablo Cabrera takes on the role of interim first base coach and outfield instructor. Jack Simonetty joins as an interim hitting assistant.
These changes come shortly after a disappointing weekend in Baltimore, leading to the dismissal of manager Alex Cora and several other coaches, including hitting coach Peter Fatse and assistant Dillon Lawson. Run prevention coach Jason Varitek is being reassigned within the organization.
Chad Tracy has been named interim manager, with Chad Epperson stepping in as the interim third base coach. Collin Hetzler also joins the hitting staff. While the coaching team had been quite thin, the recent additions help restore some balance.
Flores brings a wealth of MLB experience. He worked as the infield coordinator for the Cubs from 2012 to 2017 and served as the first base coach for the Phillies in 2018. He moved to Baltimore as third base coach for two years before joining the Red Sox as bench coach for Triple-A Worcester.
On the other hand, Cabrera and Simonetty are newer to the big league scene. Cabrera, at just 28, started with the Red Sox in 2023 as a coach for Double-A Portland. He later became the infield/outfield defensive coordinator. Simonetty, 26, began as a video and technology associate and recently moved up from Single-A Salem before joining the hitting staff.
With these interim roles filled, the Red Sox will navigate the 2026 season with a coaching staff still adapting to their new roles. The team’s performance in the coming months will determine if any of these coaches get to stay beyond this season.
Experts say that frequent coaching changes can affect team dynamics and player performance. A study from Sports Business Journal found that teams with stable coaching staffs tend to perform better in the long run. As this season unfolds, it’ll be interesting to see how the Red Sox adapt.
For further insights on coaching changes in sports, you can check out this informative piece from the Harvard Business Review.
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jack simonetty,jose david flores,pablo cabrera
