The Philadelphia Phillies have made a big move by hiring Don Mattingly as their new bench coach. Mattingly is a true legend in the sport and spent his entire playing career with the New York Yankees. He was one of the best hitters of his time and even won the Most Valuable Player award. Now he is bringing all that experience to help lead the Phillies in the 2026 season.
This hiring is a special moment for the Mattingly family. Don will be working in the same organization as his son Preston. Preston is currently the general manager for the Phillies. This means a father and son will be working together to try and win a championship. It is rare to see family members hold such high roles on the same team.
The Phillies manager is very excited about this new addition. Rob Thomson has known Mattingly for years and they previously worked together in New York. He believes Mattingly’s smarts and character make him a perfect fit for the clubhouse. Mattingly has a lot of experience leading teams as a manager for the Dodgers and the Marlins. He is known for being a great leader and a steady hand in the dugout.
Before coming to Philadelphia Mattingly spent the last few seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was with them during their recent run to the World Series where they barely lost in the final game. He decided to leave that role after his contract ended to find a new opportunity. He replaces another coach who is moving into a different position within the team.
Fans are happy to see the man known as “Donnie Baseball” join the squad. He was a nine-time winner for his defensive skills and a great hitter too. Even though he is sixty four years old he still has a lot of energy for the game. People hope his winning attitude will help the Phillies finally end their World Series drought.