Reid Brignac, who managed the AA Binghamton Rumble Ponies for the last four years and brought them to the Eastern League Championship in 2025 has been named minor league baseball’s Coach of the Year by Baseball America.
Brignac presided over the Mets’ AA affiliate during a period where some of the best talent in the Mets’ history came through the development pipeline. He was a positive influence on player development and built a winning team mentality while simultaneously helping the players reach their individual growth goals.
He was once asked how he balanced the seemingly competing objectives of developing players for the next level and winning at the AA level. He stated that he and his staff worked hard with the players during the off-hour practice times to develop the skills deemed necessary by the organization, but when the lights came on for a game, everyone’s priority was to win. This embodied the “all-for-one, one-for-all” philosophy that helped him become so successful in Binghamton.
In the 2025 season alone, 15 players who had played for Brignac made their Major League debut.
Back in 2024 I had the opportunity to interview Reid Brignac and he impressed me as someone that was very committed to the success of his team. Here is a link to the article: Brignac
Brignac inherited a team in 2022 with a losing record and quickly built them into a winner, making it to the Eastern League Championship series in his second season. After another season above .500 in 2024, the Ponies set a franchise record with a 90-46 record in 2025 when they won the Championship series. In his four-season tenure, the team compiled a 286-257 record (.527) despite the continual movement of players into and out of the roster as they followed their development paths.
Former players and Ponies’ personnel related that Brignac was a respected voice in the clubhouse and in the community. He was more than just “that baseball coach” and he will be missed.
Reid now returns to the Tampa Bay Rays organization where he was originally drafted as a player and spent five seasons with the MLB club. He finished his nine-year MLB career with the Braves in 2016. He will be part of the coaching staff for the AAA Durham Bulls in the 2026 season. This will be a familiar setting, as he played 303 minor league games with the Bulls between 2008 and 2012.
The Mack’s Mets staff wishes him the best in his new assignment and thanks him for his contribution to the development of the Mets’ prospects.
That is a real honor for Reid, who had a boatload of talent to help him excel in 2025. Perhaps he helped Parada get going, which in itself would be impressive.
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteWere you surprised Reid did not receive an offer from the Mets to be on the major league staff as a coach. He certainly had a very positive relationship with several of the Met prospects coming up in the near future. Thoughts?
I think that Reid was well thought of in the Mets organization and I am sure they were disappointed to lose him. Reid is a southern boy, born in Louisiana and he spent a lot of time in the Durham NC area during his playing days. I think he took advantage of an opportunity rather than being pushed out. I was surprised though that he did not leave to become the manager of the Bulls.
DeleteVery short sighted of the Mets to let him go. Sounds like a good replacement for Mendoza...lol.
ReplyDelete