1/5/26 : PHILLIES HIRE DON MATTINGLY AS BENCH COACH

PHILLIES HIRE DON MATTINGLY AS BENCH COACH

The Phillies have hired Don Mattingly as bench coach on the major league coaching staff.

Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.

            “I am excited to welcome Don Mattingly to Philadelphia”, said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. “Having known Don for years and having worked closely with him in New York, I know that his knowledge of the game and his character make him a great addition to our tremendous coaching staff.”

Mattingly, 64, has spent each of the last 22 seasons on a major league staff, including the last three in the same role with the Toronto Blue Jays (2023-25). A native of Evansville, Ind., Mattingly began his major league coaching career in 2004 as hitting coach for the New York Yankees, a position he held for three seasons until he was elevated to bench coach for the 2007 season.

            Following his time in New York, Mattingly joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as hitting coach in 2008 and spent three years in that role (2008-10). He was named manager of the Dodgers prior to the 2011 season and served as skipper for five seasons from 2011 through 2015.

            Mattingly was named manager of the Miami Marlins before the 2016 season and spent seven seasons in that role from 2016-22. He was named the 2020 National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America after guiding the Marlins to a 31-29 record and the club’s first postseason appearance since 2003.

As a player, Mattingly spent 14 seasons as a first baseman in the major leagues, exclusively for the Yankees, from 1982-95. A six-time American League All-Star and the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player, Mattingly won nine Gold Glove Awards, including five in a row from 1985-89 and four in a row from 1991-94.

He finished his playing career with a lifetime .307 batting average, 2,153 hits, 222 home runs and 1,099 RBI over 1,785 games. The Yankees retired his No. 23 on Aug. 31, 1997, and dedicated a plaque to him in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. His son, Preston, currently serves as vice president and general manager of the Phillies.