LAS VEGAS — To account for the loss of Tanner Swanson, the Yankees are promoting another top coach from their catching department.
The club is adding run prevention and catching coordinator Aaron Gershenfeld to the major league coaching staff, a source confirmed on Monday, after Swanson left to become the Mariners’ bench coach.
Gershenfeld had been heavily involved with the organization’s catchers, which Swanson led as the director of catching and major league field coordinator.
And while Swanson’s departure hurts, the club believes it is well equipped to maintain its success in coaching its catchers to become some of the game’s best framers, thanks in part to Gershenfeld.
It remains to be seen if there will be any further changes to Aaron Boone’s staff, most notably with the hitting coaches whose seats got warm when Hal Steinbrenner blamed the offense for another early playoff exit.
Pitching coach Matt Blake will be back after signing an extension, while bench coach Brad Ausmus interviewed for the Astros’ manager, with a resolution expected soon on that front.
Swanson, whose new job with the Mariners gets him back home after living across the country from his family during his time with the Yankees, played a major role in helping his catchers become elite framers — including Austin Wells turning into a Gold Glove finalist this season.
But Gershenfeld was a key part of that process as well, working with both major and minor league catchers. Now the former Louisville catcher will get a chance to do that full-time in the big leagues.
