Carlos Beltran’s first coaching staff with the Mets will include a former mentor with three World Series championship rings.
Hensley Meulens, who spent most of the past decade as part of Bruce Bochy’s staff with the Giants, has been hired as Beltran’s bench coach with the Mets, an industry source confirmed Monday. The 52-year-old Meulens was the Giants hitting coach when Beltran played for the team in 2011 after he was traded by the Mets for Zack Wheeler. With Meulens as hitting coach, the Giants won the World Series in 2010, ’12 and ’14.
Meulens spent the past two seasons as bench coach in San Francisco and was set to take a position with the Marlins before receiving a call to interview with the Mets. Other known candidates for the position were Fredi Gonzalez, Joey Cora and Jerry Narron. The Mets also spoke to Giants third-base coach Ron Wotus about the position before he opted for a return to the Giants under new manager Gabe Kapler.
Nicknamed “Bam Bam” for his raw power, Meulens came up through the Yankees organization as a third baseman in the 1980s. He interviewed for the Yankees managerial job that went to Aaron Boone following the 2017 season.
“I’ve been known as a great communicator with guys because I speak five languages [English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento and Japanese],” Meulens said following his interview with the Yankees two years ago. “I like going around the clubhouse, finding out how guys are feeling.
“Sometimes players tend not to give information to the coaches. But you don’t know if their dog died or something. If I coach or if I manage, I go around and ask guys how they’re doing and if there’s any issues. You’ve got to understand as a coach, you’re kind of a psychologist at the same time. Having an understanding as a player and easing a player a bit goes a long way toward getting the player to play.”
Meulens, a native of Curacao, managed for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and ’17.
The Mets placed a priority on candidates with NL coaching experience, hopeful that will translate into Beltran navigating the double-switch easier in his first managerial job. Beltran was hired this month to replace Mickey Callaway after serving as a special assistant for the Yankees last season. Beltran, like Meulens, interviewed for the Yankees managerial opening two years ago.
Meulens is replacing Jim Riggleman, who spent one season in the job. Riggleman was told in October that his contract wouldn’t be renewed. Glenn Sherlock, the first-base coach and catching instructor, was also told his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
The Mets recently re-signed Chili Davis as hitting coach, giving him a two-year deal. And as The Post reported last month, Gary DiSarcina is expected to return in some capacity (he was the third-base coach last year) to continue his mentorship of the infielders, particularly Amed Rosario.
The biggest missing piece to Beltran’s staff is pitching coach. Former Mets pitcher Jeremy Hefner (the assistant Twins pitching coach), former reliever Steve Karsay and University of Michigan pitching coach Chris Fetter have all interviewed for the position.