Sources: Phillies fire veteran coaches Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson
Long, 59, and Dickerson, 61, were hired before the 2022 season to work for then-manager Joe Girardi and remained on the staff after Rob Thomson replaced Girardi in May 2022.
As Don Mattingly takes charge as the Phillies’ full-time manager, the team has fired two veteran coaches.
Hitting coach Kevin Long and infield instructor Bobby Dickerson were told they’re being let go, major-league sources said Wednesday night, confirming an NBC Sports Philadelphia report. The Phillies are expected to announce the changes as part of a news conference Thursday in Citizens Bank Park.
Long, 59, and Dickerson, 61, were hired before the 2022 season to work for then-manager Joe Girardi and remained on the staff after Rob Thomson replaced Girardi in May 2022 and Mattingly replaced Thomson on an interim basis in late April.
» READ MORE: Phillies remove interim tag, sign manager Don Mattingly to two-year contract
Both coaches are highly regarded within the sport and could land jobs with other teams, even though only the Mariners and Astros are hiring new managers. Long was especially close with several prominent Phillies, notably Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper, and signed a three-year contract extension last offseason.
Yet after years of prioritizing continuity among players and staff, the changes may be reflective of a shift in organizational philosophies on hitting and defense, areas that underwent a sharp downturn this season.
The Phillies scored three runs or less in 72 games, including the postseason. They were 19th in the majors in runs, 22nd in OPS, and 23rd in on-base percentage. And they were 28th in on-base percentage from the right side of the plate. Turner, in particular, had the worst season of his career.
In the previous four years, with mostly the same personnel, the Phillies ranked no worse than eighth in runs per game or OPS.
Given the likelihood that the lineup will continue to revolve around Harper, Schwarber, and Turner, it appears the organization believes a new voice in the batting cage might help. Mattingly, a .307 hitter in a borderline Hall of Fame career, figures to have input in hiring the next hitting coach.
Dickerson was hailed for his work over the years with Alec Bohm, who became a serviceable defender at third base. He also oversaw Harper’s on-the-fly transition to first base in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery.
» READ MORE: The most imaginative changes the Phillies can make begin with moving Trea Turner off shortstop
But Turner regressed badly at shortstop after the best defensive season of his career last year, prompting discussion about a potential position change. And the Phillies’ infielders rated poorly according to many metrics. As a group, they were 44 runs below average based on defensive runs saved, worst in the majors.
The Phillies are believed to be seeking a more data-based approach to infield defense, according to major-league sources, which might have led to Dickerson’s departure.
The Phillies haven't won a playoff series since 2023, and their postseasons keep getting shorter and shorter. How can they fix it? Radio play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss Trea Turner's future, the managerial uncertainty, whether the Phillies can get "creative" to change the mix of the roster, and more. Watch here.
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