Phillies Hire Don Mattingly as Bench Coach

The Philadelphia Phillies have hired veteran baseball figure Don Mattingly as their new bench coach, marking a family reunion with his son Preston, the team's general manager. The announcement came on Monday, positioning the 64-year-old Mattingly to join manager Rob Thomson's staff for the 2026 season.

Mattingly's move follows the expiration of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he served as bench coach for the past three years. Under manager John Schneider, the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series last fall but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7. This marked Mattingly's first appearance in the Fall Classic during his extensive career as a player, manager, or coach. He replaces Mike Calitri, who has transitioned to the Phillies' major league field coordinator role.

A former New York Yankees standout, Mattingly spent his entire 14-season playing career with the team from 1982 to 1995. As a first baseman, he earned six American League All-Star selections, the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player award, a batting title in 1984, and nine Gold Glove Awards. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and managing, beginning with stints as an assistant in the Yankees...