Former San Diego Padres bullpen coach Ben Fritz has been hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks as their new pitching coach, the club announced Friday. Fritz spent the 2026 season with San Diego, where he worked with the bullpen under manager Mike Shildt.
The move was confirmed on October 31, 2026. Fritz, 44, appeared in 27 games as a reliever for the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics during a brief major league playing career from 2007 to 2010. He transitioned to coaching in the Padres organization, serving as a minor league pitching coordinator before his promotion to the major league staff last season.
Arizona's hiring fills the vacancy left after the Diamondbacks parted ways with previous pitching coach Brent Strom at the end of the regular season. The Diamondbacks finished 2026 with an 89-73 record, missing the postseason by two games.
