Mets interviewing Cubs assistant John Mallee for hitting-coach vacancy, alongside Kevin Long

New York has opened a coaching search after moving on from its previous hitting leadership, and one candidate is a former Cubs hitting coach with recent ties to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakout.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Mets have added Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee to their list of candidates for a vacant hitting-coaching role, according to MLB reporting. The interview process also includes Kevin Long, a longtime hitting-coach figure with prior Mets experience.

Mallee, 57, has served as head hitting coach for multiple organizations, including the Astros (2013-14), Cubs (2015-17) and Phillies (2018-19). More recently, he returned to Chicago and worked as an assistant under Dustin Kelly, after a stint in Anaheim.

In Chicago, Mallee’s staff relationship is credited with helping Pete Crow-Armstrong’s development. MLB reporting describes Crow-Armstrong as having grown from a below-average hitter in Mallee’s first season on the Cubs staff in 2024 to an All-Star in 2025 and the probable National League MVP in 2026.

The same Cubs coaching framework helped drive broader offensive results in 2026, with MLB reporting that the Cubs led the majors in runs (850), slugging (.428) and OPS (.767) under Kelly and Mallee.

The Mets’ search is tied to changes made after the season. New York dismissed director of hitting Jeff Albert, and while it retained hitting coach Troy Snitker and assistant Rafael Fernandez, the club was still looking at whether to hire a new hitting director above Snitker or within the assistant tier beneath him.

Kevin Long, 59, previously served as the Mets’ hitting coach from 2015-17 and is described as receiving significant credit for Daniel Murphy’s 2015 postseason breakout. After his Mets contract expired, Long spent four seasons in Washington and then moved to Philadelphia, before the Phillies dismissed him earlier this month with two years left on his contract.

Why It Matters

Hiring decisions around hitting can reshape a team’s approach at the plate for the full season, from swing mechanics to in-game adjustments.
Mallee’s candidacy indicates the Mets are looking at coaching backgrounds tied to demonstrated offensive output, including a Cubs staff that produced league-leading power and run production in 2026.
The Mets’ search is also a staff-structure question, since reporting indicates they were weighing a new “hitting director” role above Snitker versus options within the assistant layer.
Long’s inclusion adds continuity for the Mets, given his prior tenure with New York and his connection to prior postseason offensive breakthroughs.

Sources

Key Facts

The Mets are considering Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee for an open hitting-coaching position, and he is on the team’s interview list, according to MLB reporting.
MLB reporting says the Mets’ candidate pool also includes Kevin Long.
Mallee, 57, has been a head hitting coach with the Astros (2013-14), Cubs (2015-17) and Phillies (2018-19).
In Chicago, MLB reporting links Mallee’s staff work with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s development into an All-Star in 2025 and a probable NL MVP in 2026.
MLB reporting credits the Cubs, under Dustin Kelly and Mallee, with leading the majors in runs (850), slugging (.428) and OPS (.767) in 2026.
The Mets dismissed director of hitting Jeff Albert after the season, while retaining hitting coach Troy Snitker and assistant Rafael Fernandez.