Braves lose another coach, as bullpen coach Drew French moves to Baltimore as pitching coach
Per reports, the Baltimore Orioles are hiring Atlanta Braves bullpen coach Drew French as their new pitching coach.
Neither the Orioles or Braves have yet confirmed the hire.
French, 39, first joined Major League Baseball's coaching ranks in 2016 with the Houston Astros after a long stretch in college baseball. His time in their minor leagues culminated with a role as pitching coach for the AAA Round Rock Express in 2019 (now known as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys).
Joining Atlanta as bullpen coach in December 2020, French was responsible for the Braves relievers and oversaw the "Night Shift" bullpen that was instrumental in Atlanta's 2021 World Series victory over the Houston Astros.
Under his tutelage, Atlanta's been able to both sign former major leaguers (Tyler Matzek), trade for struggling relievers (Pierce Johnson), and rehabilitate injured pitchers (Kirby Yates) in various ways.
He has connections with the Baltimore Orioles, as well, as several of their front office officials were with the Astros during his time with the organization.
This brings the total of coaching spots open on manager Brian Snitker's staff to three, after third base coach Ron Washington was hired as the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels and tapped first base coach Eric Young Sr. as one of his first hires.
Atlanta's stated policy on coaching hires, per President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, is that the organization would never block existing personnel from interviewing for a promotion with another organization, but turnover amongst the major league staff has still been rare during Snitker's tenure.
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