This offseason, the New York Mets have suffered yet another setback, and this time it comes from their fiercest opponent. The signing of former Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and first base coach Antoan Richardson, two well-respected members of New York’s staff, by the Braves on Wednesday reignited the Atlanta Braves vs. Mets rivalry.
David O’Brien of The Athletic revealed the hirings on X, then known as Twitter, outlining the decisions that surprised a lot of Mets supporters.
Jeremy Hefner was appointed pitching coach by the Braves. Hefner, 39, has spent the last six seasons with the Mets, who had the sixth-best ERA in the NL during that time. Additionally, they appointed 42-year-old Antoan Richardson as first-base coach. He was an OF and baserunning teacher for the previous two seasons while serving in that capacity with the Mets.
Hefner was instrumental in improving the Mets coaching staff, leading a rotation that consistently finished in the top ten in the league for ERA over several seasons. In the meantime, Richardson revolutionized New York’s baserunning, enabling the team top the NL in 2025 with 152 stolen bases. Despite being seen as lateral actions, both hires have significant symbolic meaning because of the division rivalry.
Mets supporters went into a frenzy on the internet after hearing the news.
“Are you serious?” wrote well-known Mets YouTuber and celebrity Tyler Ward (@WardyNYM).
“Wow,” SNYTV’s Joe Demayo wrote (@PSLToFlushing), encapsulating the shock that permeated Mets social media.
“The one guy from the coaching staff you absolutely had to keep smh,” @LakerFranko24 continued.
Others specifically targeted team leadership. “@StevenACohen2, awful appearance. After signing Soto, who attributes his success to Richardson as a star base stealer, Stearns allows him to leave for a division competitor in the same position. “This team is being destroyed by Stearns,” stated @Hustlediva1.
The Braves’ low-cost, well-thought-out employment of Hefner and Richardson enhances their base-running plan and pitching development. In an offseason already marred by uncertainty surrounding Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, the Mets are suffering yet another self-inflicted setback.
Nobody is unaware of the symbolism. Hefner’s hiring highlights Atlanta’s opportunism and leaves Mets supporters wondering how their executive staff allowed it to happen. Losing important coaches to the Braves hurts just as much as losing a series.