Don Mattingly is gearing up for one more potential World Collection run.
The previous Yankees star was formally named the bench coach of the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
“I am excited to welcome Don Mattingly to Philadelphia,” stated Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson, who overlapped with Mattingly within the Yankees group when the latter was a participant and later a coach.
“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, spent the previous three seasons because the Toronto Blue Jays’ bench coach beneath supervisor John Schneider. He additionally served as Toronto’s offensive coordinator in 2024.
However Mattingly stepped down from the position in November, days after the Blue Jays misplaced in Recreation 7 of the World Collection to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Final yr marked Mattingly’s first journey to the World Collection, as he by no means superior that far as a participant with the Yankees from 1982-1995 or in any of his earlier seasons as a coach or supervisor.
He now joins a Phillies group with championship aspirations.
Philadelphia has made the playoffs 4 years in a row, together with profitable the Nationwide League East in each of the previous two seasons. Philly went 96-66 earlier than being eradicated by the Dodgers within the NLDS.
Mattingly replaces Mike Calitri, who was the Phillies’ bench coach from 2022-25 earlier than turning into their main league area coordinator this offseason.
Monday’s hiring continues an eventful offseason for Mattingly, who final month fell wanting Corridor of Fame election in a vote by the Modern Baseball Period Committee.
Mattingly batted .307 with 222 residence runs, 1,099 RBI and an .830 OPS in his 14 MLB seasons. He was the 1985 American League MVP and gained 9 Gold Gloves at first base.
However Mattingly performed in solely 5 postseason video games, all in his closing season.
“But sometimes in life, you don’t get what you want. You can work hard for it. You can try your hardest and do everything you think you need to do to get there, and sometimes you still don’t get there because you’re not supposed to get there. Maybe I was just chosen to be the one guy who never gets there.”
