“Massive Blow” for Cubs: Trailblazing Hitting Coach Rachel Folden Departs for New York Mets.vc
Hailed as one of the “best hitting minds” in player development, Folden leaves Chicago after six years; Cubs President Jed Hoyer calls her “invaluable.”
CHICAGO — In a significant shake-up to their player development system, the Chicago Cubs have lost one of their most respected and groundbreaking coaches. Rachel Folden, a trailblazer for women in baseball, has left the organization to accept a new role with the New York Mets.
The news broke on November 1, 2025, confirming that Folden, who spent the 2025 season as the hitting coach for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, would be joining the Mets.
The departure is being viewed as a “huge loss” for the Cubs’ organizational pipeline, a sentiment echoed by experts who have followed her career.
“Massive blow to the Cubs organization,” posted Greg Huss, host of a Cubs-focused podcast. “Folden’s fingerprints are everywhere you look here.”
That sentiment was shared by fellow Cubs podcast host Caleb Webb, who expressed his admiration for her impact. “Ah man, this is a big loss for the Cubs organization. @rachelfolden25 is one of the best hitting minds for player development in the game,” Webb wrote on social media. “Best of luck, Rachel! Will always root for you!”
Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, confirmed the move, praising Folden’s impact on the organization.
“Rachel has been an invaluable part of our organization, and her contributions to the development of our players, especially in hitting, have been immense,” Hoyer said in a statement. “While we are sad to see her go, we fully support her decision and wish her nothing but success in this next chapter of her career with the Mets.”
Folden’s journey with the Cubs began in 2019 when she was hired as the lead hitting lab tech and fourth coach for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Her unique ability to connect with players and her expertise in hitting development led to a quick rise through the system, culminating in her role with the Iowa Cubs.
Her departure marks a turning point, as many in the industry believed Folden was on a trajectory to join the major league coaching staff in Chicago. The Mets have now secured that expertise, adding a highly-regarded asset to their own player development system.
As one of the most prominent female coaches in the sport, Folden’s success is seen as a major step forward for women in baseball, and she has become a role model for aspiring coaches.
While her influence will be missed in Chicago, her legacy will remain in the players she helped develop. As she steps into a new chapter with the Mets, it is clear her coaching career is on a limitless upward path.
