Kevin Kiermaier isn’t ready to walk away from baseball just yet. The former outfielder, who recently retired as a 2024 World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is returning to the Toronto Blue Jays—but in a completely new capacity. Kiermaier will join the team’s front office as a special assistant to General Manager Ross Atkins, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
“I always joked with the guys about becoming a special assistant,” Kiermaier shared. “I used to tell them, ‘You’ll miss me, but one day I’ll be a special assistant, and you’ll love having me around.’ It’s funny how it came true. I’m thrilled. This is the dream job of my life. I can’t wait.”
In his new position, Kiermaier will focus on coaching outfielders, starting with Spring Training next week. Throughout the season, he’ll serve as a defensive instructor for outfielders at all levels of the organization. A four-time Gold Glove winner, Kiermaier is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive outfielders in MLB history, having saved 162 runs since the metric was first tracked in 2003.
“I’m going to try to revolutionize outfield defense,” Kiermaier told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “I want to be the start of a new era, with the teachings and drills I can implement. This has been on my mind for years, and now it’s becoming a reality. I’m really excited. It’s fun to think about.”
Kiermaier joined the Blue Jays as a free agent in 2023 after spending 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. In his first season with Toronto, he earned his fourth Gold Glove. Though he re-signed with the Blue Jays in 2024, he retired in July and was later traded to the Dodgers, where he ended his career as a World Series champion.
After his retirement, Kiermaier had discussions with several teams, including the Rays, about a post-playing role. However, the strong relationships he built with Ross Atkins and President Mark Shapiro ultimately led him to return to Toronto. “I can’t thank them enough,” said Kiermaier. “They’ve treated me so well over the years. That’s why I wanted to maintain this relationship. I love the people in this organization. There’s so much potential and talent here.”