Brewers Hire Daniel Vogelbach as New Coach

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced significant changes to their coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 season. One notable addition is former major league first baseman Daniel Vogelbach, who has been appointed as a hitting coach. This move comes as part of a broader overhaul within the hitting coach team.

Coaching Staff Changes

Al LeBoeuf, the lead hitting coach, will not return following his absence from part of the 2025 season due to a prostate cancer diagnosis. While LeBoeuf remains with the organization, Eric Theisen has been promoted to the lead hitting coach role. Vogelbach and former Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez will serve as assistants to Theisen.

Promotions and New Roles

Additional changes in the coaching staff include:

• Jason Lane has been promoted to “offense and strategy coordinator”.
• Matt Erickson will now take on the dual role of infield coach and third base coach.
• Jim Henderson, who previously served as assistant pitching coach, is now the pitching coordinator.
• Juan Sandoval, previously a minor league pitching coach, has been elevated to assistant pitching coach.
• Spencer Allen, the former director of player development, will step in as first base coach, replacing Julio Borbon.

Both Borbon and LeBoeuf will continue in unspecified roles within the Brewers’ organization. The majority of the changes stem from internal promotions, marking a significant reshaping of the coaching staff.

Daniel Vogelbach’s Background

Daniel Vogelbach is a recognizable figure in the sport. He played parts of nine seasons in the major leagues from 2016 to 2024, logging a .219 batting average with a .340 on-base percentage and .405 slugging percentage. During his career, he hit 81 home runs in nearly 2,000 plate appearances.

Known for his excellent pitch recognition skills, Vogelbach had a career walk rate of 15.1%. This coaching role is his first since retiring from playing, where he took on a special assistant position within the Pittsburgh Pirates’ baseball operations last offseason.

Guillermo Martinez’s Experience

Joining Vogelbach is Guillermo Martinez, who has extensive experience as a hitting coach. At 41 years old, he spent five seasons with the Blue Jays, serving as their hitting coach from 2019 to 2024. His career also includes work as a minor league hitting coach and coordinator for both the Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs.

After leaving Toronto, he returned to the Cubs for another stint before joining the Brewers for the 2026 season. This marks his 15th year in professional coaching.