Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel is returning to the New York Yankees after one season with the New York Mets. The move was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and confirmed by The New York Post.
The 50-year-old coach is rejoining the Yankees in his former role as assistant pitching coach, where he will once again work under manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake. Druschel’s return follows a season of transition for both New York clubs, with several changes to coaching staffs on each side of the city.
- Desi Druschel, 50, is rejoining the New York Yankees as assistant pitching coach after one year with the Mets.
- Druschel previously spent three seasons with the Yankees from 2019 to 2024 before joining the Mets under Jeremy Hefner.
- Both the Yankees and Mets have undergone sweeping coaching staff changes after the 2025 MLB season.
Druschel’s Coaching Journey
Desi Druschel initially joined the Yankees organization in 2019, serving as manager of pitch development before being promoted to the major league coaching staff. From 2022 through 2024, he worked as the team’s assistant pitching coach, helping the Yankees’ modern, analytics-based pitching strategy alongside Blake.
After the 2024 MLB season, Druschel accepted a similar position with the Mets, joining Jeremy Hefner’s staff. The Mets officially announced his hiring before Spring Training in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where Druschel was seen assisting pitchers during early workouts on February 20, 2025, as captured by photographer Corey Sipkin for the NY Post.
However, after just one season, the Mets announced on October 3, 2025, that they would not renew Hefner’s contract for the 2026 season because of a coaching overhaul under new manager Carlos Mendoza. Following Hefner’s departure, both Druschel and bullpen coach José Rosado were “given permission to speak to other teams, pending the selection of a new pitching coach,” according to team reports.
Why Druschel Chose to Return to the Yankees
With Jeremy Hefner’s exit and the Mets’ staff changes, Desi Druschel decided to return to the New York Yankees, where he had previously spent three seasons as an assistant pitching coach. Druschel had originally been hired in part by Hefner, so moving back to the Bronx made sense after the Mets permitted him to speak with other teams.
At the same time, the Yankees were making their own staff changes. The team did not retain longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey, who had held several roles with the club over multiple stints. Druschel’s familiarity with the organization and his previous success with Blake made him a natural fit to return.
According to The New York Post, one Yankees insider described the move as “a natural reunion,” pointing to Druschel’s data-driven approach and his contributions to the team’s pitching development during his earlier tenure.
Druschel’s return does not replace Preston Claiborne, who worked as the Yankees’ assistant pitching coach in 2025. As reported by SNY’s Andy Martino, Claiborne will stay on staff, though it has not yet been decided whether he or Druschel will take over Harkey’s former bullpen coach role.
As Druschel rejoins the Yankees’ staff, the betting markets are already factoring in the team’s evolving outlook for 2026. According to FanDuel, the Yankees’ World Series odds currently sit around +700, putting them among the top contenders in the league. Earlier this year, their odds had fluctuated between +800 and +900 following key pitching injuries and early-season struggles. Despite the dips, sportsbooks such as DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars continue to list the Yankees near the upper tier of MLB futures boards.
On the individual side, Aaron Judge remains one of the frontrunners for AL MVP, holding strong odds at -325, and manager Aaron Boone appears as a long shot for Manager of the Year at +10000, per FanDuel. Expert analysts from Action Network and Covers note that bettors continue to back the Yankees heavily, anticipating improved performance from a retooled pitching staff under Blake and Druschel.
Betting trends show that the Yankees’ coaching changes have brought new confidence. With Desi Druschel back and young pitchers like Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, and Will Warren improving, there’s growing hope for the team’s pitching future. Sports Illustrated analysts said that if the pitching staff stays healthy, the Yankees’ odds could improve again by midseason.
Widespread Coaching Changes Continue for the Mets
After the 2025 season, Desi Druschel became one of several coaches leaving Carlos Mendoza’s Mets staff. Along with Hefner, several staff members will not return in 2026, including bench coach John Gibbons, hitting coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, infield coach Mike Sarbaugh, and catching instructor Glenn Sherlock, who announced his retirement.
The Mets ended the 2025 season ranked 18th in team ERA at 4.04. They struggled in the second half and missed the playoffs. While pitching was inconsistent, team insiders said Desi Druschel’s coaching was well respected and that the problems came from overall team performance, not his work.
Druschel’s Foundation in Pitching Development
Before joining Major League Baseball, Druschel built his career at the University of Iowa, serving as director of baseball operations from 2014 to 2017 and later as pitching coach from 2017 to 2019. His data-driven approach to pitcher development attracted the Yankees’ attention, leading to his hiring in 2019.
During his initial tenure in the Bronx, Druschel helped implement the team’s analytical and technological systems for refining pitching mechanics and performance. His partnership with Matt Blake became central to the Yankees’ pitching philosophy and player development model.
