Philadelphia Phillies dismiss hitting and infield coaches

The Philadelphia Phillies will not retain hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson for the 2027 season. The decision follows a significant offensive decline during the 2026 season, where the team ranked among the bottom five in baseball in several major offensive categories, posting a 92 wRC+.

Long, who joined the club in 2022, saw initial success during his first year, helping the team reach the World Series. However, the team's offensive production dropped in 2026, with only Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryson Stott producing a wRC+ greater than 90.

In addition to the coaching departures, the Phillies have officially removed the interim tag from manager Don Mattingly, signing him to a two-year contract to lead the team through the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Mattingly took over the managerial role in April following the firing of Rob Thomson.