It's Official: Don Mattingly Returns To AL East As Coach

Who'd have thought that New York Yankees legend would return to the American League one day... And it be with one of their chief rivals? The Toronto Blue Jays have now officially announced the hiring of Donnie Baseball as their new bench coach. 

OFFICIAL: We're excited to announce that we've hired Don Mattingly as our Bench Coach.

Welcome to the #BlueJays, Donnie Baseball! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/juJjmJKkWN

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 30, 2022

It was first reported Tuesday night that the Jays were deep in conversation with the former Miami Marlins manager. Mattingly stepped down after seven seasons in what was said to a mutual decision. 

The former AL MVP (1985), and six-time All-Star, will be bench coach for the Jays' newly-installed full-time manager John Schneider. He was given that title after taking over mid-season for Toronto for the dismissed Charlie Montoyo and leading the Jays on a 101-win pace to get to the first Wild Card seed. 

#BlueJays manager John Schneider grew up in New Jersey as a #Yankees fan. One of his favorite players as a kid? Don Mattingly. @Sportsnet @MLBNetwork @FAN590

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 30, 2022

Schneider grew up a Yankees fan in New Jersey, and, as Jon Morosi notes, Mattingly was one of his favorite players. Now he'll have his idol sitting right next to him in the Jays dugout. 

Mattingly, 61, spent his entire 14-year major league career as a Yankee, earning nine Gold Glove awards, three Silver Slugger awards and those six All-Star selections. He was given the rarified honor of 'Captain' of the Yankees in 1991 and served in the role until retirement after the 1995 season.

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