The Washington Nationals have finalized what looks like their full 2026 coaching staff, highlighted by the hiring of Matt Borgschulte as hitting coach, Victor Estevez as third base/infield coach, and Dustin Glant as assistant pitching/bullpen coach. This group will work under new manager Blake Butera as the organization continues to reshape its on-field infrastructure heading into the 2026 season.
Nationals finalize 2026 coaching staff
The Nationals announced their coaching group during the Winter Meetings, completing a staff overhaul that began with Butera’s hiring. Borgschulte, Estevez, and Glant are the latest additions to a largely new-look staff, with only former closer Sean Doolittle returning from last year’s group.
Matt Borgschulte takes over as hitting coach
Matt Borgschulte joins Washington after spending 2025 as the Minnesota Twins’ hitting coach, a season in which the Twins finished in the bottom third of the league in runs scored and posted middle-of-the-pack results in most offensive categories. Before his year in Minnesota, the 35-year-old served as co-hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 2022–2024, helping guide an emerging young lineup during their rise into contention.
Borgschulte replaces Darnell Coles as Nationals hitting coach and will be tasked with unlocking more consistency and power from a lineup that has leaned heavily on developing young talent. His track record with both a veteran Twins roster and a prospect-heavy Orioles core should appeal to a Washington team trying to move from rebuilding to competing.
Victor Estevez to lead infield and third base
Victor Estevez joins the Nationals for his first Major League coaching job after more than a decade in the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league system. The 37-year-old has seven seasons of managerial experience in the minors, including the last two at the High-A level, and has also managed in the Dominican Winter League.
Estevez will oversee third base and infield duties for a Nationals defense that has struggled badly in recent seasons, ranking 28th in MLB with -60 Outs Above Average across the last three years. Improving infield defense is a clear priority for Washington, and Estevez’s player-development background suggests a focus on fundamentals, positioning, and individual improvement for young infielders.
Dustin Glant joins as assistant pitching/bullpen coach
Dustin Glant makes the jump from college baseball to the Major Leagues as Washington’s assistant pitching/bullpen coach. He spent the last four seasons at Indiana University and had served as the Hoosiers’ pitching coach since 2022 after six years in the same role at Ball State.
Glant also brings professional playing experience, having spent parts of six seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm system in the 2000s. His mix of collegiate coaching success and pro background fits a broader league trend of teams pulling innovative pitching minds from the college ranks.
Rest of Blake Butera’s first staff
The remainder of Butera’s staff had already been reported and is now officially in place. The group includes bench coach Michael Johns, pitching coach Simon Mathews, assistant hitting coach Andrew Aydt, assistant pitching coach Sean Doolittle, first base/outfield/baserunning coach Corey Ray, catching coach Bobby Wilson, field coordinator Tyler Smarslok, and development coach Grant Anders.
With Doolittle as the lone holdover from Dave Martinez’s and Miguel Cairo’s 2025 staff, this is effectively a fresh start for the Nationals’ on-field leadership.