The Dodgers have moved quickly to fill their hitting coach opening, hiring Pedro Guerrero on November 10, 2026 after his two seasons with the Marlins. It is a change that keeps Dave Roberts' staff largely intact while giving Los Angeles a fresh voice for a key part of the lineup.
Guerrero is no stranger to the Dodgers organization. He spent his entire minor league playing career in the system, then returned as a coach in the low levels from 2016-17 before moving on to his latest role in Miami.
Why the Dodgers turned to Pedro Guerrero
The decision comes after Aaron Bates left the Dodgers despite a multi-year offer. That made the search straightforward in one sense: the club needed a new hitting coach, and it needed one who already understood its environment.
Peter Bendix praised Guerrero as a “wonderful human being” who “did a tremendous job for us,” but also said it was time for “a new voice to guide its young hitters.” That is the sort of phrasing that tells you this is not about one problem alone. It is about timing, fit and the belief that a different perspective can help the next wave of hitters.
A familiar name with a different story
Pedro Guerrero is also not to be confused with the former Dodgers star of the same name who made four All-Star teams in the 1970s. This Guerrero carved out his own path, beginning with 411 minor league games and 1,524 plate appearances from 2006 to 2013, before moving into coaching.
He also brings recent experience from a Marlins staff that included young players such as Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, Javier Sanoja, Owen Caissie and Connor Norby. That background should matter for a Dodgers club that is constantly balancing established production with the need to keep evolving.
What changes, and what does not
For now, the expectation is that Roberts' coaching staff stays together apart from the hitting coach change. That is important, because the Dodgers have not made this move as part of a wider overhaul. They have made it because they believe the hitting department can benefit from a different message at the right time.
In other words, this is a targeted hire rather than a reset. The Dodgers have a clear structure in place, and Pedro Guerrero now steps into it with familiarity, experience and a direct mandate to help shape the lineup's next phase.
