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Phillies: 2 Finalists Emerge for Hitting Coach Position

By Matt Rappa

Phillies Matt Stairs watches his two–run home run along with Dodgers catcher Russell Martin sail into the right field stands to give the Phillies a 7–5 lead in the 8th inning in Game 4 of the NLCS in Los Angeles Monday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Phillies Matt Stairs watches his two–run home run along with Dodgers catcher Russell Martin sail into the right field stands to give the Phillies a 7–5 lead in the 8th inning in Game 4 of the NLCS in Los Angeles Monday. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /
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Joe Dillon

The Phillies' first candidate for their hitting coach position is Joe Dillon, who served as the assistant hitting coach for the 2019 champion Nationals.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Joe Dillon #25 of the Washington Nationals poses for a portrait on Photo Day at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches during on February 22, 2019 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Phillies have received permission from the Washington Nationals to interview Joe Dillon, their assistant hitting coach, as first reported by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury.

Dillon was the first reported candidate for the vacant position; he has gained recognition around Major League Baseball, Salisbury writes,“for marrying new-age science with old-school principles in coaching hitters,” a similar philosophy as to what Girardi will bring to the Phillies. Breen writes that Dillon “brought cutting-edge techniques to the Nationals, introducing teaching methods that were inspired by neurologists and intended to strengthen hitters’ cognitive skills.”

RELATED | Phillies to Interview Nationals’ Joe Dillon for Hitting Coach Position

As Nationals assistant hitting coach in 2018 and 2019, Dillon has worked with Kevin Long, who worked alongside Girardi on the New York Yankees’ coaching staff from 2008 to 2017. Long has viewed Dillon “the best assistant hitting coach in the baseball.”

Prior to becoming the Nationals assistant hitting coach in 2018, Dillon was the Miami Marlins’ minor league hitting coordinator, and as hitting coach for Triple-A Syracuse, where he tutored eventual-big leaguers Michael A. Taylor, Trea Turner, Brian Goodwin and Steven Souza Jr., among others.

The 44-year-old played in parts of four seasons in the major leagues: 2005 with the Florida Marlins (replacing Mike Lowell at third base), 2007-08 with the Milwaukee Brewers, and 2009 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 137 career games, 95 with the Brewers, Dillon slashed .263/.344/.378 with 12 doubles, three home runs, 19 RBI, 22 walks and 47 strikeouts spanning 246 plate appearances.

Under Dillon, the 2019 World Series champion Nationals ranked seventh in baseball in slugging percentage, second in on-base percentage, and sixth in batting average, all marks the Phillies failed to rank better than 18th, according to Breen.

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