Yankees Rehire Mets Assistant Pitching Coach Amid Mets Staff Overhaul

The New York Mets are undergoing a significant coaching staff overhaul following their disappointing 2025 season, which culminated in a collapse that saw them miss the playoffs despite a promising start. Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel, who had joined the Mets from the Yankees for the 2025 season, has decided to return to the Yankees as an assistant to pitching coach Matt Blake. Druschel, who initially joined the Yankees organization in 2019 and served in various developmental roles, was considered a natural candidate to replace the Mets' pitching coach Jeremy Hefner but was instead given permission to explore other opportunities. His departure leaves the Mets with a nearly gutted pitching coaching staff amid broader changes that include new hires and multiple departures. The Yankees, who posted a solid pitching performance in 2025 and are expecting the return of key players like Gerrit Cole, view Druschel's familiarity with their system as beneficial for maintaining pitching consistency. Overall, the Mets' shift towards a data-driven coaching philosophy has influenced their staffing decisions, emphasizing adherence to system directives over individual coaching personalities.