The Washington Nationals have hired Jim Hickey as the club’s pitching coach, the team announced.
Hickey is quite familiar with Nationals manager Dave Martinez. Hickey spent 11 seasons as the Tampa Bay Rays pitching coach from 2007-2017, helping guide the staff to a 2008 World Series appearance. Martinez served as the Rays bench coach from 2008 to 2014.
Prior to his time in Tampa Bay, Hickey was the pitching coach of the Houston Astros from 2004-2006. During his time in Houston, the Astros had a formidable pitching staff that included Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. The team advanced to the 2005 World Series.
Hickey also spent 2018 with the Chicago Cubs rejoining Joe Maddon, who initially hired him in Tampa Bay. Hickey served as a special assistant for player development with the Los Angeles Dodgers the last two seasons.
Hickey replaces Paul Menhart, who the team parted ways with earlier this month. Menhart had spent 15 seasons in the organization prior to his departure. He was the minor league pitching coordinator for much of his tenure before being promoted to the Nationals pitching coach in 2019.
