The Washington Nationals have parted ways with pitching coach Paul Menhart.
Menhart, 51, had been with the organization for 15 years. He became the pitching coach in May 2019 and helped the team capture its first World Series championship last fall.
A team spokesman confirmed Sunday that the team was moving on from Menhart, whose contract is up after this season.
Menhart addressed the situation Saturday night in a text message to reporters, per The Washington Post.
“I’m not sure how to take all this,” he said. “I have given 15 years to this organization, starting from the bottom, trying to help numerous pitchers achieve their major league dreams. … Winning a World Series was the icing on the cake. … This organization has been very kind to me and my family and I wish them luck in the future.”
Menhart appears to be a casualty of the Nationals’ first-to-worst decline this season. Washington tied for last place in the National League East with a 26-34 record during the pandemic-shortened campaign.
His short-handed pitching staff finished 13th in the NL with a 5.09 ERA. Ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg was shut down with a nerve issue in his hand after throwing just five innings.
Menhart joined the Nationals in 2006 and served as their minor league pitching coordinator from 2015 until his promotion last May to replace Derek Lilliquist, who was fired.
