Seattle Mariners Add Scott Brosius to their Major League Coaching Ranks

The Seattle Mariners have elevated Scott Brosius from minor league hitting coach to an assistant coaching position with the big league club.

Under the guidance of hitting coach Edgar Martinez, the Seattle Mariners had the fourth-largest increase in baseball in runs scored from 2015 to 2016. They went from hitting .249/.311/.411 to .259/.326/.430. In comparative terms, in 2015 they were right around league average on offense when league and ballpark effects were taken into account (100 wRC+) to seven percent better than league average in 2016 (107 wRC+).

Now Edgar Martinez is getting some help on the coaching staff. The Mariners have moved Scott Brosius from hitting coach of the AAA Tacoma Rainiers to an assistant coach position with the major league team. Brosius will work with Edgar, compiling scouting reports and attending daily hitter meetings. The former big league third baseman will also assist in other areas of coaching, including defense. He’s excited about the opportunity.

“I really believe Seattle is going to be a great fit for me,” said Brosius. “It’s an opportunity to develop young hitters, stay close to home, and work for a team that everyone in this area enjoys following.” With the Rainiers last season, Brosius helped guide a hitting attack that had the fewest strikeouts in the Pacific Coast League and the lowest strikeout total for the franchise since 2003.

The big league club also improved in that area. In 2015, the Mariners struck out 7% more often than league average. In 2016, they struck out 2% less often than league average. Adding Brosius to the big league team’s coaching staff should continue this focus on making more contact.

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Scott Brosius is a native of the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon before going to Linfield College, which is located near McMinnville, Oregon. In 1987, he was named the MVP of the Linfield baseball team and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 20^th round of the 1987 Amateur Draft.

After playing with Oakland for seven years, Brosius signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent and had his most successful season in 1998. He hit .300/.371/.472 and was an all-star for the first and only time in his career. In the 1998 postseason, he turned into Mike Schmidt for three weeks, hitting .383/.399/.660, with 4 home runs and 15 RBI in 13 games. He was so good in the Yankees’ 4-0 sweep of the Padres that he won the World Series MVP Award. Brosius was part of three World Series Championship teams in his four years with the Yankees.

After his career as a player ended, Brosius became the assistant coach for Linfield under Scott Carnahan, who was the coach Brosius had played for. They switched roles in 2007, with Brosius taking the head coaching position. He was named the Northwest Conference coach of the year five times in seven seasons as head coach and led the team to the NCAA Division III national championship tournament three times.

The Wildcats finished third in 2010, then won the title in 2013. It was their first national baseball championship in NCAA Division III (and third national championship overall, along with their NAIA titles in 1966 and 1971). The Wildcats went 237-81 (.745) in Brosius’ seven years as head coach.

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Brosius was hired by the Mariners to be the hitting coach for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers last December. After a successful year there, he’s up with the big league team and eager to take the next step. “I’m looking forward to being part of helping the Mariners take a big step forward, not only reaching the playoffs but helping the team learn to win in the postseason.”