The Tampa Bay Rays announced Tuesday that first base coach Chris Prieto and assistant hitting coach Dan DeMent will not return to Kevin Cash‘s coaching staff for the 2024 season.
“I am appreciative of the hard work and commitment from Chris and Dan throughout the last two seasons. We wish them and their families the absolute best in their next steps,” said Rays Manager Kevin Cash.
Prieto was the first base coach for the Rays the last two seasons, taking over for Ozzie Timmons, who left to become the Milwaukee Brewers’ hitting coach, he had been the minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator the previous two seasons. DeMent was named assistant hitting coach in November of 2021. He spent 13 seasons in the Rays organization as a coach, including two seasons as minor league hitting coordinator.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
