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WASHINGTON – Brad Holman wishes nothing but the best for Paul Menhart, the former Washington Nationals’ pitching coach whose contract was not renewed after this past season.
Holman was the Triple-A pitching coach at Fresno in 2019 and was then moved to the pitching coordinator in player development prior to this season.
That is the job Menhart held until he was moved up the Major Leagues in May of 2019.
“Paul and I developed a pretty good relationship,” Holman told Federal Baseball this week from Florida, where is part of Instructional League. “Mutual respect for each other; communication was wide open. I just know Paul is going to be fine. He did a good job here.”
Holman was the bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers in 2017. After his contract was not renewed, he joined the Nationals as the Triple-A pitching coach in 2018 at Syracuse – turning down a chance to manage at Double-A Mobile in the farm system of the Angels.
He said his focus is on Florida and the pitchers he has there. “I am not going to lobby for anything like that,” he said of the opening for a pitching coach for Washington.
Manager Dave Martinez, armed with a new extension, is expected to bring in a pitching coach that he worked with in the past, according to published reports.
One name being thrown around is Jim Hickey, the former pitching coach for Tampa Bay and for the Chicago Cubs in 2018.
Martinez was a player and coach for the Rays and a bench coach under Joe Maddon with the Rays and Cubs.
Holman and Menhart both pitched in the majors in the 1990s – Holman pitched for Seattle in 1993.
“I was lucky to have Brad as a pitching coach when I was a coordinator,” Menhart told Federal Baseball last month.
“We built a relationship of trust and understanding, with the same philosophy. His ability to relate to these players is very special. He has a personality that is off the charts. It is not just doing the Xs and Ox but it is being good with people, and Brad is good with people.”