Former Mets Coach Who Helped Develop Pedro Martinez Dies at 84

Guy Conti, a longtime New York Mets coach and adviser who played an important role in Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez's development, has died at 84.

Conti died following a lengthy illness, according to the New York Post, which confirmed his death Tuesday.

A native of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, Conti served as the Mets' bullpen coach from 2005 through 2008 before continuing to work with the organization as a minor league adviser and spring training coordinator.

But his influence on one of baseball's greatest pitchers began long before Martinez arrived in New York.

Conti was working for the Los Angeles Dodgers when the organization sent him to the Dominican Republic to evaluate Martinez, whose older brother, Ramon, was already in the Dodgers' system.

The younger Martinez immediately impressed Conti with his pitching ability despite being considerably smaller than his brother.

Conti recalled that first encounter during a 2015 interview with the Post.

"I got there, I was presented with 20 pitchers and there was no 6-foot pitcher in there, never mind 6-foot-4 like Ramon was," Conti said.

He remembered watching Martinez take the mound and realizing that the pitcher in front of him possessed extraordinary talent.

Conti subsequently helped Martinez develop his changeup, which became one of the most effective pitches in baseball.

His assistance also extended beyond pitching.

Conti and his wife helped Martinez learn English as the young Dominican pitcher adjusted to life in the United States.

According to Conti, Martinez would visit his wife, a high school librarian, to learn new words and return later having mastered their spelling and usage.

Their relationship continued as Martinez developed into one of the game's dominant starting pitchers.

The two eventually reunited with the Mets after Martinez signed with New York before the 2005 season.

That signing became one of the most significant free-agent additions in franchise history.

Martinez went 15-8 with a 2.82 ERA in his first season with New York, helping generate excitement around a team that would reach the National League Championship Series the following year.

Conti remained on the coaching staff during the Mets' 2006 run, when New York won 97 games and came within one victory of reaching the World Series.

That team also featured Carlos Beltran, who later chose to represent the Mets on his Hall of Fame plaque.

After his tenure as bullpen coach ended, Conti continued working with young pitchers throughout the organization, a role that reflected the Mets' longstanding emphasis on developing talent within their system.  

Conti maintained a close friendship with Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, who visited Mets spring training camps on several occasions.

Former Mets media relations director Jay Horwitz remembered Conti's dedication to the organization.

"Guy was the first one to arrive at camp every morning and the last one to leave," Horwitz told the Post.

Although Conti spent much of his career working behind the scenes, his lasting legacy includes his influence on Martinez's development and decades spent mentoring young pitchers.