LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The New York Mets have announced that Great Britain Baseball U23 Manager Jonathon Cramman has been hired as the Bench Coach for the minor-league St. Lucie Mets. Cramman becomes the third Great Britain Baseball coach to make the jump to professional baseball in the last few years, joining Liam Carroll (Boston Red Sox) and Drew Spencer (New York Yankees).

Cramman has been a member of the Great Britain Baseball programme since 2002, when he debuted as a player against Russia in Moscow as a member of the U12s. He made the transition to coaching in 2019, first joining the U15s as Manager, and served as Hitting Coach for the Senior National Team at several competitions, including both the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifier and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Domestically, Cramman managed the London Mets to two BBF National Baseball League Championships, in 2017 and 2022.

The Haringey, London native was named the U23 Manager in January 2024 and led the team at the U23 World Cup in China that year, their first ever World Cup appearance. Last year, Cramman became the first Great Britain Manager to win a Gold Medal in 87 years, leading the U23s to their first European Championship in Czechia. Cramman was honoured as the European Baseball Coaches Association 2025 Coach of the Year in Antwerp last November, the first Great Britain coach to receive this prestigious award.

Cramman joins St. Lucie, and Manager Luis Rivera’s staff, ahead of Major League Baseball Spring Training, which will commence in February. St. Lucie is the Single-A Minor League affiliate of the New York Mets.

“I’m very excited to be given this opportunity to help the organization develop major league players,” said Cramman. “It’s a dream come true and goes to show that hard work trumps all.”

“This is a fantastic and thoroughly deserved opportunity for Jonathon. While results on the field matter, what is equally important to us is the development of our people,” said Performance Director Gary Anderson. “Jonathon’s move to an MLB organisation shows how professional teams now recognise the standards and professionalism of the Great Britain programme. We care deeply about our staff and players, and supporting their development is central to our philosophy.”

The Great Britain U23s will next play at the U23 World Cup later this year in Nicaragua. Further details about the competition will be announced at a later date.

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