The St. Louis Cardinals have parted ways with hitting coach Brant Brown, according to multiple team sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been made official as of Friday morning.
The decision marks the fourth time since 2021 that the Cardinals have sought a new major-league hitting coach. Brown, 55, joined the organization after the 2024 season, replacing Turner Ward following another year of offensive underperformance. His tenure covered the 2025 and 2026 campaigns under manager Oliver Marmol.
St. Louis finished the 2026 season 77-85 and in fourth place in the National League Central. It was the club’s first year under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom and was structured as the opening phase of a multiyear rebuild centered on a younger roster. The offense ranked near the bottom of the majors, posting the second-lowest OPS (.691) and slugging percentage (.378), ahead of only the Los Angeles Angels.
Brown arrived in St. Louis with prior major-league coaching experience that included stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (assistant hitting coach and hitting strategist from 2018-22, including the 2020 World Series title), the Miami Marlins (hitting coach in 2023), and the Seattle Mariners (bench coach and offensive coordinator in 2024, a role from which he was dismissed in late May amid early-season offensive struggles). A former major-league outfielder who appeared with the Cubs, Pirates, and Marlins from 1996-2000, he was viewed at the time of his Cardinals hiring as a fresh voice for a lineup that had ranked near the bottom of the National League in several key categories in 2024.
Despite the team’s overall offensive ranking, several players produced standout seasons. Outfielder Alec Burleson led the National League with 116 RBIs. Jordan Walker, in his first All-Star campaign, set career highs with 29 home runs and 102 RBIs. Infielder JJ Wetherholt drew strong consideration for National League Rookie of the Year honors.
The Cardinals expect to retain the majority of the major-league coaching staff for 2027. Longtime third-base coach Ron “Pop” Warner and outfield/quality control coach Jon Jay, whose contracts were set to expire, are expected to return, according to earlier reporting. Bench coach Daniel Descalso has previously been linked to managerial openings and could draw interest this winter, including from clubs such as the Angels. Manager Oliver Marmol, who signed a two-year contract extension during spring training, remains under contract through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
The move leaves St. Louis searching for a new hitting voice as Bloom continues to shape the organization around its younger core. No official announcement on Brown’s departure or a potential successor had been issued as of Friday morning.
