The Nationals have hired Jim Hickey as their new pitching coach. Manager Dave Martinez, after receiving a three year extension, fired the previous hitting, pitching, and bench coaches to assemble his choice coaching staff. Hiring Hickey was the first step towards accomplishing that plan.

Dave Martinez worked with Jim Hickey first in 2017 with Tampa Bay. Dave Martinez was Tampa Bay’s bench coach for years, while Hickey was there for just one season. Then, in 2018, Martinez and Hickey worked in Chicago together for the Cubs.

Hickey has had 37 years of pro baseball experience under his belt as a player and coach, which he can use to his advantage. Dave Martinez must have seen something really good in Hickey while in Tampa and Chicago to replace Paul Menhart, the Nationals former pitching coach who coached them to a World Series while being a part of the organization for over a decade.

Photos courtesy of:

theathletic.com

bleedcubbieblue.com