The Seattle Mariners are hiring New York Yankees catching coach and field coordinator Tanner Swanson as bench coach, confirmed by ESPN. Swanson, a native of Washington, joined the Yankees' staff in 2020 after three seasons as minor league catching coordinator with the Minnesota Twins. He is highly regarded for his work with catchers, including starting catcher Austin Wells.
Swanson served as bench coach for Great Britain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and was acting manager for the Yankees in July 2026 after Aaron Boone and Brad Ausmus were ejected. The Mariners pair Swanson with Jason Kanzler, 36, who has never managed at any level but previously served as the Chicago Cubs' director of player development. Kanzler replaced Dan Wilson, the longtime catchor who was fired after a disastrous 2026 season.
The New York Post first reported Swanson's hiring.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing