Overview
- Multiple outlets including The Athletic, the New York Post, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald report Willard is the favorite and is expected to take the Mets’ pitching coach job, with no official announcement yet.
- Willard, 35, has served as the Red Sox director of pitching since 2024 and is credited with helping Boston achieve a top-five team ERA in 2025 while strengthening pitcher development across the system.
- He would replace Jeremy Hefner, whose option was declined after the Mets’ late-season collapse that featured sharp declines from starters such as Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and David Peterson.
- Willard’s stated philosophy—“throw nasty stuff in the zone”—aligns with a key Mets need after the club ranked among MLB’s highest in walks last season.
- As part of broader staff changes, reports also say the Mets are set to hire Rachel Folden as Double-A Binghamton’s hitting coach, with other roles already filled on Carlos Mendoza’s staff.