Don Mattingly is leaving the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are set to lose a key piece of their coaching staff.
According to a report from the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, bench coach Don Mattingly is stepping away from the franchise after spending three seasons with the team.
The Blue Jays later confirmed his departure via social media.
The 64-year-old has served in several different roles across four organizations since retiring from his lengthy playing career.
Mattingly was first hired as Toronto’s hitting coach in 2023, before switching to the bench coach role last year. He was succeeded by David Popkins as hitting coach, who was largely credited with Toronto’s turnaround offence.
Previously, Mattingly also worked for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Miami Marlins, the latter two of which he’d been the major league manager.
Why is Mattingly leaving the Blue Jays?
Mattingly’s contract expired after the 2025 season, and “felt it was mission accomplished with the Blue Jays,” according to one of Heyman’s sources.
Before his coaching career, Mattingly was a fan favourite among the rival Yankees, playing his whole career in the Bronx from 1982 to 1995. A six-time All-Star and a winner of the 1985 American League MVP, Mattingly also has his No. 23 retired by the Yankees.
He was the favourite childhood player of Toronto manager John Schneider, who spoke glowingly of the chance to work closely with one of his heroes.
“We took a picture at Yankee Stadium after we won [the ALDS] and I sent it to him and I said, ‘eight-year-old me is pretty pumped up right now,’” Schneider told reporters prior to the World Series.