Diamondbacks Welcome Wellington Cepeda Back to Coaching Staff

The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to reintroduce Wellington Cepeda to their coaching staff. According to Isaac Azout of Fish on First, Cepeda will take on the roles of bullpen coach and assistant pitching coach for the team.

Cepeda's Homecoming
This move marks a homecoming for Cepeda, who has deep roots within the Diamondbacks' organization. As a player, Cepeda pitched in the Diamondbacks' minor league system from 1997 to 2000, though he never advanced beyond the High-A level. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into coaching, spending many years working with various minor league teams within the Diamondbacks' system.

Big League Opportunity with the Marlins
Cepeda's first major league coaching opportunity came with the Miami Marlins in 2020. He served as their bullpen coach for the past five years. However, the Marlins recently underwent a significant overhaul, parting ways with their entire coaching staff, as well as several other team personnel.

Diamondbacks' Coaching Changes
The Diamondbacks have also been making adjustments to their coaching staff, albeit not as extensive as the Marlins'. Last month, the team parted ways with pitching coach Brent Strom, bullpen coach Mike Fetters, and assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson. Brian Kaplan has since been hired to replace Strom as pitching coach, and now Cepeda will join Kaplan's staff in his new role.

​Cepeda's return to the Diamondbacks brings valuable experience and familiarity with the organization, which will be instrumental as the team looks to improve its pitching staff in the upcoming seasons.