Overview
- The team announced Monday that Michael Johns will serve as bench coach, with the move unveiled by Blake Butera and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
- Johns spent the past two seasons as the Rays’ first-base coach, where he oversaw outfield work and baserunning.
- His Rays tenure spans nearly two decades, including nine seasons as a minor league manager, a stint as Triple-A Durham skipper in 2023, and service as minor league field coordinator.
- Johns and Butera have an established rapport from their shared time in Tampa Bay’s system, where Johns previously supervised Butera.
- He is the first confirmed addition to a fully revamped 2026 coaching staff, with Toboni signaling future hires will prioritize development fit over prior MLB managerial experience.