Shushkewich: Mense, Blue Jays' assistant hitting coach, to depart for Giants

Toronto Blue Jays’ assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense is leaving the club for a position with the San Francisco Giants. Photo: MLB.com

November 12, 2025

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Toronto Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense is departing the club for a similar position with the San Francisco Giants, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic.

During the 2025 season, Mense worked alongside Lou Iannotti under new Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins, whom the Jays hired last winter after he was let go by the Minnesota Twins.

Mense’s tenure with the Blue Jays organization dates back to 2018 when he was hired as a hitting coach for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats who were managed by current Blue Jays manager John Schneider. Mense then spent three seasons as a hitting coordinator for the Blue Jays' minor league players before being bumped up to the big league staff in 2022.

As a player, Mense attended the University of Missouri and was a 17th-round draft pick of the Marlins in 2006. He spent five seasons climbing up the farm system, making it as high as triple-A New Orleans in 2010. He then played two years of independent ball with Kansas City (2010 and 2012).

Mense finished his minor league career with a .254/.321/.362 slash line across 349 games, amassing a .683 OPS with 61 doubles, seven triples, and 19 home runs.

Mense will be joining the Giants and their new manager, Tony Vitello, who was the longtime head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Mense played for Vitello when he was on the coaching staff with Missouri.

Mense becomes the second coach to depart from the Blue Jays staff, as bench coach Don Mattingly stepped away from his role with the club earlier this month. Jon Heyman, of the New York Post, is reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies are interested in hiring Mattingly.