LAS VEGAS — Buster Posey wasn’t quite ready to name the Giants’ new hitting coach when he met with reporters Tuesday inside the ARIA Resort and Casino on the second day of MLB’s general managers meetings. But he announced a historic internal promotion.
Taira Uematsu, whose rise through the organization’s coaching ranks began as a minor-league bullpen catcher in 2006, will replace Shane Robinson in the first-base coach’s box next season.
Uematsu, originally from Japan’s Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, will become the first base coach in MLB history born in Japan. He filled in as an interim while Robinson dealt with family matters for a week this past season and has performed the role in spring training.
“History aside, Taira is one of the most dedicated, loyal people I’ve been around — one of the hardest workers,” said Posey, who was drafted by the Giants two years after Uematsu’s initial hiring. “He really grew on [first-year manager] Tony [Vitello] last year. I’m personally really excited for Taira because he’s been here longer than I’ve been here.
“To see the work that he’s put in, I know he’s going to be really excited about the opportunity.”
Under former manager Bruce Bochy, Uematsu earned the nickname “Mr. Omnipresent” for the number of tasks he took on. He was promoted to the major-league staff by Gabe Kapler and maintained his title as quality control coach last season under Vitello.
One of Uematsu’s primary responsibilities was studying opposing pitchers’ tells and times to the plate, which should make him well suited to take over at first base. The Giants finished 22nd in MLB with 88 stolen bases, but the pace picked up considerably down the stretch.
Their baserunning improved after a midseason change in the third-base coach’s box, reassigning first-year base coach Hector Borg and bringing in veteran Gary Pettis.
Pettis will return as the third-base coach, Posey confirmed. Ron Washington, who transformed Luis Arraez’s defense before he was traded, will also be back as their infield coach.
Robinson will remain in the organization on the minor-league side, serving as a roving outfield coordinator. Posey said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
On the pitching side, the Giants had already announced that the same personnel will return but in restructured roles. Justin Meccage will remain the head pitching coach, Frank Anderson will go from director of major-league pitching to assistant pitching coach, and Christian Wonders, the assistant pitching coach last season, will be the new director of minor-league arms.
Posey said there weren’t “clear lines of communication” among the pitching coaches last season.
“It never felt like, ‘Hey, I’m trying to go around your back and do something without you knowing it,’ but it was just a little scattered at times,” Posey said. “I think the players felt it some, too.”
As far as a new hitting coach, Posey said the Giants were “pretty close” to finalizing a hire. Whichever candidate emerges from the process will be San Francisco’s third hitting coach in as many seasons, following the departure of Hunter Mense for Kansas City.
