Cardinals passed over in hitting coach search as vacancy remains

The St. Louis Cardinals had the unfortunate benefit of being able to start on their offseason earlier than desired thanks to their missing the postseason yet again. They cannot yet tap into free agency, but Chaim Bloom has been working to provide his players with the best staff possible to continue progressing into the future.

This focus on the future took Bloom to the coaching staff, and the Cardinals began their offseason by separating from hitting coach Brant Brown after two seasons with the organization. Even with multiple Cardinals hitters putting up the best year of their careers, Bloom saw this offseason as an opportunity to get as much consistency in the system. Brown had his own approach for hitters, and while it may have been effective for some, the overall offense struggled again and a fresh voice may be what the team needs to further unlock the offensive potential.

Phillies hire Peter Fatse for hitting coach as Cardinals continue search

The vacancy created by the dismissal of Brown led to plenty of speculation for what Bloom was going to do to keep focusing on player development at the big league level. The initial thoughts from the fanbase were that Casey Chenoweth would be an internal option since he was credited with helping players like Jordan Walker break out in 2026. However, recent news came out that the Phillies hired Peter Fatse as their hitting coach, and according to the reports, he had his choice between Philly and St. Louis.

After this report, Jeff Jones stated that the fact that Fatse was a finalist for the Cardinals job means that Bloom may be looking to go external for the opening. If that is the case, Chenoweth may be expected to resume his role in the minors to continue working with the players working their way through the system. Assuming he remains with the organization, the prospects will have the same voice talking them through mechanics and approaches, which may help the development move in the right direction. Because of the depth of talent in the minors, having consistency on the coaching staff could be a long-term benefit for the Cardinals, even if Chenoweth does not get the immediate promotion to the majors.

When the news came out that Fatse chose Philadelphia, the social media responses had a wide range of thoughts. For Fatse, he was born in Massachusetts and is making the move from the same role with the Red Sox organization. While Bloom has connections to Boston, the proximity to home could have played a factor in the hitting coach's decision. Fatse also had the opportunity to choose between a contender and a rebuilder, opting to go with the team who has a quicker chance at a ring with more experienced talent.

While the Phillies are still considered contenders, their most recent cameo in the playoffs brought up questions for what the future looks in Philly. Fatse will have the opportunity to work with established hitters like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, but those aging veterans are also nearing the end of their established careers. For Fatse, the short-term gain of working with a title contender may be worth it for the 39-year-old. Because he is still on the young side, especially for coaches, if things do not work out in Philly, Fatse may be a name to watch when the window closes.

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