Sports · Baseball · 2 hrs ago
Phillies part ways with coaches Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson
The Philadelphia Phillies are moving on from Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson, their hitting and infield coaches, after the 2026 season.
Long joined the team in 2022, and the Phillies reached the playoffs in each of the next three seasons.
In 2026, the team’s batting average was .240, and its 92 wRC+ ranked ahead of only two teams, the Reds and Rockies.
The changes come as Don Mattingly was signed to manage the team in 2027 and 2028 after taking over in April.
Third-base coach Anthony Contreras will stay with the Phillies but move to a different role.
Long is signed through 2028 and is expected to draw interest from other clubs.
The Phillies will not retain hitting coach Kevin Long or infield coach Bobby Dickerson.
The decisions were reported by Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia and confirmed by Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Long had been the Phillies’ hitting coach since the 2022 season.
The team hit .240/.312/.395 in 2026, its lowest batting line during Long’s tenure.
Don Mattingly, who took over as interim manager in April, signed a two-year deal to manage the team in 2027 and 2028.
- Who
- The Philadelphia Phillies, hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson.
- What
- The Phillies will not retain Long or Dickerson.
- When
- The decisions were reported on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Philadelphia.
- Why
- The sources say the Phillies opted for change as they make decisions about next year’s coaching staff. They do not state a specific reason for either decision.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dickerson was hired as the Phillies’ infield coach.
Long began his tenure as the Phillies’ hitting coach.
Mattingly took over as interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired.
Reports said the Phillies would move on from Long and Dickerson, and the team confirmed the coaching decisions.
Mattingly is set to manage the Phillies under a two-year deal.
- Kevin Long
- Hitting coach since the 2022 season
- Bobby Dickerson
- Phillies infield coach since October 2021
- 2026 team batting line
- .240/.312/.395
- 2026 team wRC+
- 92
- Don Mattingly’s deal
- Two years, covering 2027 and 2028
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Phillies will move on from hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson, according to sources. More coming at @NBCSPhilly