The Cleveland Guardians announced Thursday that they have hired Tony Arnerich as their new bench coach. Arnerich, who previously worked with manager Stephen Vogt in Seattle, fills the vacancy left by Craig Albernaz.
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt added a familiar face to his coaching staff on Thursday, hiring Tony Arnerich as the team's new bench coach. The 45-year-old Arnerich spent the past four seasons on the Seattle Mariners' big league coaching staff as part of a nine-year tenure with the organization, during which he worked alongside Vogt.
Arnerich steps into the role vacated by former associate manager Craig Albernaz, who was named the Baltimore Orioles' new skipper last month. In Seattle, Arnerich served as the organization's assistant hitting coordinator and catching coordinator from 2017-19, and as Minor League field and catching coordinator from 2020-21. He joined the Mariners' big league staff as hitting coach in 2022 and held that position for two seasons.
Vogt served as the Mariners' bullpen coach in 2023, a role Arnerich assumed after Vogt left to become the Guardians' manager. A native of Santa Rosa, California, Arnerich spent nine years as a college coach before joining Seattle, including eight seasons as an assistant at Cal Berkeley from 2007-14. He also played five seasons in the Minor Leagues from 2001-05 in the Kansas City Royals and Miami Marlins organizations.
The close collaboration required between a manager and bench coach in game situations and planning makes Arnerich's prior experience with Vogt a logical fit. This marks the Guardians' second offseason coaching addition with ties to Seattle, following the hiring of former Mariners assistant general manager Andy McKay as field coordinator on Wednesday. McKay, who spent 10 seasons in Seattle's front office, replaces Kai Correa in that role.