Tampa Bay Rays Making Some Coaching Changes Heading into 2024 Season

The Tampa Bay Rays are not bringing back two coaches in 2024, including assistant hitting coach Dan DeMent.

The Tampa Bay Rays are making some subtle yet important changes to their coaching staff heading into the 2024 season.

Per an MLBTradeRumors article (that references an original Marc Topkin piece):

The Rays announced today that first base coach Chris Prieto and assistant hitting coach Dan DeMent will not return to the club’s coaching staff for the 2024 season. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times adds that the Rays are expected to consider both internal and external candidates as they look to replace Prieto, though DeMent will not be replaced on the staff. Topkin notes that with hitting coach Chad Mottola and assistant hitting coach Brady North already in place, the Rays felt a third hitting coach “proved unwieldy..."

It's understandable that three hitting coaches may have been "too much" or "redundant" but it should also be noted how good the Rays were offensively under their previous structure.

Despite several injuries throughout the season (and the Wander Franco situation), Tampa Bay won 99 games and finished second in the American League East. The Rays were third in baseball with a .260 batting average, sixth in home runs with 230 and fourth in runs scored with 860.

They figure to remain very competitive in 2024 though fans should recognize that the Yankees and Red Sox could make substantial jumps next year, making life difficult for the small-market Rays.

Despite the great regular season this year, the Rays were swept by the Texas Rangers in the wild card round of the American League playoffs.

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