Atlanta Braves hire former Minnesota Twins coach Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach under new manager Walt Weiss
Earlier this month, the Atlanta Braves announced they had hired former Twins coach Jeremy Hefner as their pitching coach under newly hired manager Walt Weiss.
Hefner, 39, joined the Twins in 2017 as their advance scout after his playing career ended. He served in that role for two years before being named the Twins' assistant pitching coach (bullpen coach) under newly hired manager Rocco Baldelli. Hefner held the role for just one season, joining the New York Mets as a pitching coach in 2020. He held that role with New York through the 2025 season.
The Mets fired Hefner after the 2025 campaign due to the team's disappointing season. The club barely missed the postseason despite holding on to a playoff spot for the majority of the year. As far as their pitching staff goes, the Mets finished the season ranked 18th in ERA (4.03).
It's worth noting that during his tenure with the Mets, Hefner held his position through three general manager changes and two manager changes. The fact that he stuck around despite so many coaching and front office changes proves that he is likable and valued. Yes, he was fired after this season, but it's extremely difficult to hold on to a pitching coach role as long as he did.
Hefner will do his best to improve the Braves' pitching staff, which finished 2025 ranked 22nd in ERA (4.36). They did, however, rank ninth in strikeouts (1416), so the talent is there.
Before his coaching career, Hefner played in two MLB seasons for the Mets. He made his MLB debut in 2012, and finished the year with a 5.09 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 18 walks across 93 2/3 innings. In his second and final MLB season (2013), he posted a 4.34 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 37 walks over 130 2/3 innings.
Hefner also spent time as a player in the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. In parts of eight minor league seasons, the righty pitcher sported a 3.96 ERA with 745 strikeouts and 273 walks in 868 innings.