The Phillies confirmed Monday that Don Mattingly has been hired as bench coach under manager Rob Thomson, filling a vacancy the club had discussed with him weeks earlier. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged last month that conversations with Mattingly were already underway. Mattingly replaces Mike Calitri, who shifted into a new role this offseason as the team’s major league field coordinator.
Mattingly arrives in Philadelphia after spending the past three seasons with the Blue Jays, where he served as bench coach and later added the title of offensive coordinator. He opted not to return to Toronto for the 2026 season as he explored other opportunities. Thomson praised the hire in a team release, citing Mattingly’s deep baseball knowledge and character, shaped in part by their previous time together in the Yankees organization.
The move also brings Mattingly into an organization where his son, Preston, serves as the Phillies’ general manager. While Dave Dombrowski remains the club’s top decision-maker, Preston Mattingly plays a significant role in baseball operations after rising through the front office ranks.
Though Mattingly and Thomson never overlapped on the Yankees’ major league coaching staff, their professional histories are closely linked through player development roles in New York. Mattingly later built an extensive résumé that includes stints as a hitting coach, five years managing the Dodgers, seven seasons managing the Marlins, and a leadership role overseeing offense throughout Toronto’s system.
Now in Philadelphia, the 64-year-old Mattingly will act as Thomson’s primary lieutenant on a veteran coaching staff. With Thomson signed through the 2027 season, the Phillies add another accomplished voice with decades of managerial and developmental experience, further strengthening a staff already viewed as one of the league’s most seasoned.
