BOSTON (DA) — The Boston Red Sox have parted ways with manager Alex Cora and five members of their Major League coaching staff, making a major leadership change for a club that includes Curaçao player Ceddanne Rafaela.
The Red Sox also dismissed hitting coach Peter Fatse, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson and Major League hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.
Game Planning and Run Prevention Coach Jason Varitek has been reassigned to a new role within the organization. The club said details of his reassignment will be announced later.
“Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry said. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city.”
Henry called the decision especially difficult because of Cora’s place in the organization.
“These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived,” Henry said.
Chad Tracy will serve as Boston’s interim manager. Tracy, 40, had managed Triple-A Worcester since 2022 after spending seven seasons in the Los Angeles Angels system from 2015 to 2021, including three as a minor league manager.
Tracy also served as the Angels’ minor league field coordinator from 2018 to 2021 and played eight professional seasons in the Rangers, Rockies and Royals organizations.
Chad Epperson will serve as interim third base coach. Epperson, 54, had managed Double-A Portland since 2022 after previously spending 12 seasons as the Red Sox catching coordinator.
Collin Hetzler will join the club’s Major League hitting staff. He joined the Red Sox organization in 2025 as Triple-A Worcester’s hitting coach after four seasons in the Mets organization.