Phillies fire hitting and infield coaches after hiring Don Mattingly
On Oct. 15, 2026 the Philadelphia Phillies dismissed longtime hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson after confirming former Yankee manager Don Mattingly as the team’s new manager.
The moves come as the front office keeps its top leadership intact but seeks to address the offensive and defensive setbacks that plagued the club last season, signaling a fresh strategic direction under Mattingly’s guidance.
Long, who joined the Phillies in October 2021 and still had two years remaining on his contract, oversaw an offense that fell to 22nd in the league with a .707 OPS. The team’s batting woes were highlighted by a noticeable regression from Trea Turner in his fourth year of an eleven‑season deal, and a postseason that produced only nine runs in a three‑game wild‑card loss to the Braves.
The Athletic reported that the promotion of Luke Murton to assistant general manager for hitting may have influenced the decision to replace Long, whose tenure also saw a three‑year pact secured after Kyle Schwarber advocated for his retention.
Dickerson, also hired in October 2021, exits after a defensive season in which the Phillies posted a league‑worst ‑51 defensive runs saved (DRS) and ranked in the bottom ten with a ‑15 outs above average (OAA) rating. Turner’s defensive metrics mirrored the team’s decline, slipping from positive DRS and OAA figures in 2025 to ‑17 DRS and ‑9 OAA in 2026.
The organization also announced that Anthony Contreras will assume a new role, creating a vacancy for a third‑base coach in 2027, while Mattingly’s recent track record includes a 79‑55 record after taking over a 9‑19 club and guiding the Phillies to a wild‑card appearance before a playoff exit.
Philadelphia’s front office will now assemble Mattingly’s inaugural staff, with expectations that the revamped coaching lineup will address the offensive inefficiencies and defensive shortcomings that cost the team in recent postseason outings, setting the stage for a more competitive 2027 campaign.
