Cardinals hire former pitcher as assistant coach

The Cardinals finalized their 2024 coaching staff this afternoon. Among the hires is former major league reliever Dean Kiekhefer, who joins the group as an assistant pitching coach.

Kiekhefer, a left-hander, made 22 appearances for the Cardinals in 2016. He returned to the highest level for a four-game stint with the A’s two years later. That’d mark his only MLB playing experience. The Louisville product finished his career with a 6.38 ERA over 24 innings, although he turned in a strong 3.18 mark across six seasons in Triple-A.

Since retiring from playing after the 2019 season, Kiekhefer has worked as a pitching coach in the St. Louis farm system. The 34-year-old now gets his first look on a big league staff. He’ll work alongside returnees Julio Rangel and Jamie Pogue as assistants under second-year pitching coach Dusty Blake.

Along with the previously reported hiring of Daniel Descalso as bench coach, the Cards added DC MacLea as coordinator of technology and systems. Hitting coach Turner Ward is back for a second season, while longtime staffers Stubby Clapp and Ron “Pop” Warner are at the bases. Oliver Marmol is at the helm for his third year as manager.