The Dodgers just announced Pedro Guerrero is their new hitting coach, filling that spot left open by Aaron Bates’ somewhat surprising exit last week. Hold up, though, before you start flashing back to the 80s: this isn’t the same Pedro Guerrero, the former Dodgers All-Star. Nope, this is a different dude, born in 1988, nearly four months after the OG Guerrero was traded. Both are from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, so that’s a cool connection right there, but this new coach is bringing his own unique history to the table, and it’s all about who you know.
From Minor League Grind to Major League Maestro
This Pedro Guerrero actually got his start with the Dodgers system way back in 2006, signed as an infielder. He spent eight years grinding it out in the minors, even getting a couple of games at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2010 and one at Double-A Chattanooga. The rest of his playing days were High-A and below before he hung up his cleats after the 2013 season. But that minor league grind wasn’t for nothing, because it paved the way for his coaching career. In 2016, he jumped into coaching at rookie-level Ogden, and get this: he was there when guys like Will Smith and Gavin Lux were just starting out! Plus, he coached other future big leaguers like Keibert Ruiz, Luke Raley, Cody Thomas, and DJ Peters. That’s a serious eye for talent, or at least a heck of a resume with some serious prospects under his wing.
The Network That Built a Rising Star
Baseball, man, it’s all about relationships. Guerrero’s career is like a masterclass in that. After just two years in Ogden, he got scooped up by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 as an assistant hitting coach. Who brought him in? None other than Gabe Kapler, who, surprise, was the Dodgers’ director of player development from 2015-17. See how those threads connect? Guerrero was only 29 back then, making him the youngest coach in the majors. He put in four years with the Phillies before Kapler, still believing in his guy, brought him over to the San Francisco Giants as an assistant hitting coach in 2022. Then, he moved on to be the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins for the last two years under manager Clayton McCullough, who was also the Dodgers minor league field coordinator when Guerrero was playing and coaching in their system. Seriously, the connections are wild! Even Austin Chubb, who was a first-time coach with Guerrero at Ogden in 2016, is now the Dodgers minor league field coordinator. This dude is practically family! Guerrero, who turns 38 in December, rolls into the Dodgers with nine seasons of major league coaching experience. He’s joining a staff that’s mostly staying the same, including fellow hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc, who turns 40 next Monday and has eight years of big-league coaching experience himself in Los Angeles, plus prior consulting gigs.
So what does all this mean? The Dodgers just brought in a hitting coach who has been growing his network and sharpening his skills for nearly a decade across multiple organizations, all while maintaining deep ties to the Dodgers’ own development system. This isn’t just a new coach; it’s a strategic move built on years of shared history and proven performance, and it could seriously shake up what we expect from their offense next season. This guy knows the game, and he knows the players. It’s gonna be fascinating to watch what he cooks up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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