Phillies to introduce manager Gabe Kapler: How to watch

The Phillies long managerial search comes to a ceremonial end Thursday

Gabe Kapler will be introduced to the city of Philadelphia as the Phillies next manager Thursday afternoon. The organization held off introducing Kapler until the conclusion of the World Series considering Kapler was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ director of player development.

Los Angeles dropped game seven at home Wednesday evening to the Houston Astros 5-1, in which former Phillie Charlie Morton earned the win.

Kapler has been somewhat of a mystical hire for the Phillies with a background in health, nutrition, analytics, and, yes, modeling after a 12-year playing career. At 42-years-old he fits the mold general manager Matt Klentak sought out to fill given his youth and dedication towards using analytics.

Histocially the Phillies organization has been behind the pack when it comes to analytics. With the concurrent end of Ruben Amaro Jr., Bill Giles, David Montgomery, and Pat Gillick’s reign running the organization new majority owner John Middleton and team president Andy MacPhail have sought to ignite the organization’s use of analytics. That resulted in the hiring of Klentak as general manager in 2015 and Kapler today.

Here’s how you can watch Kapler’s introductory press conference as the 54th manager in Phillies history.

Time: 2 p.m. EST

Television: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Online Stream: MLB.com, Facebook, Phillies.com, NBC Sports Philadephia

Kapler will also be a guest on Philly Sports Talk on NBC Sports Philadelphia at 5 p.m. as he continues to sell himself as the franchise’s leader going forward.

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It’s unclear who else will join Kapler and Klentak at the press conference. It’s highly possible MacPhail and/or Middleton make an appearance, but my money is on solely Kapler and Klentak.