Red Sox adjust coaching staff — and name Chad Tracy’s bench coach — two days after Alex Cora’s firing

TORONTO — One day after Chad Tracy’s debut as interim manager, the Red Sox have finalized much of their new-look coaching staff.

First base coach José Flores, who served as Tracy’s bench coach at Triple-A Worcester for three seasons (2022-2024), was named interim bench coach. To replace Flores, the Red Sox promoted minor league coordinator Pablo Cabrera to the major league staff as their first base coach. A third newcomer is Jack Simonetty, who was named to the staff as an interim hitting assistant.

Flores, who joined Alex Cora’s staff in Boston ahead of last season, made sense in the bench coach role due to his close relationship with Tracy. He also will continue to work with the infielders.

“He’s a great baseball man and one of my closest friends,” Tracy said before Boston’s game against the Blue Jays on Monday. “Having him by my side is huge for me.”

Cabrera joins interim third base coach Chad Epperson (who left his managerial role at Double-A Portland to join the big league team) and hitting coach Collin Hetzler, who was promoted along with Tracy from the WooSox.

Boston’s new-look hitting staff will have both Hetzler and John Soteropulos (formerly an assistant hitting coach on Alex Cora’s staff) assuming “hitting coach” titles, according to a source, with Simonetty as an assistant.

The Red Sox also added a new bullpen catcher in Drew Ehrhard, a 27-year-old who has been playing for Double-A Portland.

“Jack Simonetty… will help out in the cage,” Tracy said. “Pablo coached first. He can help with fungos and all the defensive work. Drew Ehrhard on the taxi squad can help us in the bullpen. So we have a more full staff. Yesterday we divided and conquered and had people fulfilling multiple duties to get us through. But we should have more help today.”

Pitching coach Andrew Bailey, bullpen coach Chris Holt and catching coach Parker Guinn all remain on the staff along with major league pitching strategist Devin Rose and bullpen catcher Charlie Madden.

The Red Sox made widespread staff changes Saturday when they fired Cora and let go six of his coaches, a group that included bench coach Ramón Vázquez, hitting coach Pete Fatse, third base/outfield coach Kyle Hudson, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin and game planning coordinator Jason Varitek.

Cabrera, 28, has been with the Red Sox since 2023 as a minor league coach in a variety of roles. He was promoted to his new role in November. Simonetty, a 26-year-old Springfield College native, was a hitting coach for Boston’s Florida Complex League affiliate this year after serving as an assistant hitting coach for Single-A Salem a year ago. Both are youthful additions to a staff that added Hetzler, 37, earlier this week.

Epperson, 54, is a longtime minor league coach who interviewed for the Nationals’ managerial opening this season. Flores, 55, coached for the Cubs, Phillies and Orioles in a variety of roles from 2012 to 2020.

The Red Sox will have a more complete coaching staff for Monday’s game in Toronto after playing Sunday’s game in Baltimore with a small group of coaches following Saturday’s purge.

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