Gallagher: R.I.P. Bobby Cuellar, former Expos coach

Former Montreal Expos pitching coach Bobby Cuellar died on Monday.

January 21, 2025

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

When Bobby Cuellar became the Expos pitching coach after Joe Kerrigan left to join the Boston Red Sox, manager Felipe Alou told him to watch for Pedro Martinez at spring training in 1997.

"I really didn't know Pedro from Adam,'' Cuellar told USA Today many years later. "Long story short, we formed a relationship. He was one of the best competitors, if not the best competitor I've ever been around.''

Cuellar helped Martinez to his first Cy Young award-winning season in 1997 when he went 17-8 with a puny 1.90 ERA.

Condolences are pouring in for Cuellar's family after he died of a heart attack Monday night in Houston. He was 72.

Cuellar was Montreal's pitching coach until he was fired July 20, 2000 and replaced by bullpen coach Brad Arnsberg.

Cuellar worked with other elite Expos arms such as Carl Pavano, Carlos Perez, Tony Armas, Dustin Hermanson, Ugueth Urbina and Javier Vazquez.

"So sad. He was my pitching coach 1997-99 when I was up and down from AAA. Had some great conversations that I'll remember for the rest of my life,'' Rick DeHart said in a Facebook exchange.

In 2002, Cuellar worked with a young Johan Santana when he was pitching coach of the Edmonton Trappers. With Cuellar's help, Santana went on to capture two Cy Young awards.

Cuellar also was the pitching coach of the Calgary Cannons in 1994 and what he did there prompted the Seattle Mariners to employ him as their pitching coach in 1995-96 before he joined Montreal.