Cardinals Part Ways With Hitting Coach Brant Brown
The St. Louis organization is moving on from its hitting coach after the team struggled offensively throughout the 2026 season.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Baseball
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The St. Louis Cardinals have officially parted ways with hitting coach Brant Brown following a disappointing 2026 offensive campaign. The team finished the year ranked in the bottom five across several key metrics including OPS, wOBA, and wRC+.
Why it matters
The decision reflects a desire to improve team production after an inconsistent season that saw the offense finish only 16th in total scoring. St. Louis is now looking to reset its approach at the plate to better support the core of its roster.
Despite the team's struggles, individual players saw production as Jordan Walker hit 29 home runs with 22 stolen bases. JJ Wetherholt also contributed to the lineup with 17 home runs and 89 runs scored.
The players
Brant Brown
He is a professional baseball coach who previously held coaching roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins.
Jon Jay
He is a former Major League Baseball outfielder currently serving as an outfield coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ron Warner
He is a veteran coach who serves as the third base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Jordan Walker
He is a young outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who is considered a key piece of the team's future offensive core.
JJ Wetherholt
He is an infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who contributed 17 home runs during the 2026 campaign.
The details
Brant Brown, who joined the organization heading into the 2025 season, served as hitting coach for two years. While Brown is departing, the Cardinals have confirmed that outfield coach Jon Jay and third base coach Ron Warner will remain with the staff under contract extensions for 2027.
Timeline
Brant Brown joined the Dodgers as assistant hitting coach in 2018.
Brant Brown became the top hitting coach for the Marlins in 2023.
Brant Brown was hired as the Cardinals hitting coach in 2025.
The Cardinals completed their 2026 season in October.
Extensions for Jon Jay and Ron Warner cover the 2027 season.
Season Trajectory
This coaching change follows the pattern of teams restructuring their technical staff during the 2026-2027 MLB offseason roster building cycle to improve offensive performance. The move suggests a significant shift in offensive philosophy as the Cardinals look to stabilize their lineup before the new year.
The departure of the hitting coach signals a shift in the team's offensive strategy that may lead to changes in player development and batting approaches for key hitters like Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt. Fans should monitor future staff announcements, as these hires will dictate the team's tactical focus heading into spring training.
The takeaway
The Cardinals are prioritizing a fresh offensive direction after a season marked by low production. Implementing a new hitting philosophy will be critical if the club hopes to convert the high individual output of players like Jordan Walker into better overall team scoring.
Further reading
For more on roster updates and team news, visit the Baseball section.
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