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4 Coaches Phillies Could Lose to Giants, Gabe Kapler

By Matt Rappa |
Bullpen coach Jim Gott #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Bullpen coach Jim Gott #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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While the Phillies coaching staff is currently complete, some coaches could soon choose to leave and re-join Gabe Kapler in San Francisco.

While the Philadelphia Phillies have their major league coaching staff filled out for now, they could soon lose some members to the staff of the San Francisco Giants and former manager Gabe Kapler.

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury recently speculated the potential shift among Phillies coaches on the most recent edition of At the Yard podcast, saying, “You just have to wonder, with Gabe Kapler getting named Giants manager last week, if possibly a holdover from the staff who may have been hired by Gabe, might move to San Francisco with him.”

Salisbury writes of four potential coaching departures, all of whom have something in common: Kapler awarded them their first-ever major league coaching position on the Phillies staff. While not a guarantee that Phillies coaches could leave for San Francisco, Salisbury still thinks that it is still a “possibility.”

Losing some coaches might not necessarily be a bad thing for the Phillies and new manager Joe Girardi.

“All are under contract with the Phillies for 2020 but the club might let one or two of them go so Girardi could have more say in building his coaching staff,” Salisbury writes. “Girardi oversaw the hiring of pitching coach Bryan Price and, obviously, has much say on the hitting coach hire, [Joe Dillon].”

Click through to see four potential coaches the Phillies could potentially lose to Kapler and the Giants.

Craig Driver, Bullpen Catcher/Receiving Coach

CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 20: Craig Driver #81 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a portrait on February 20, 2018 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 20: Craig Driver #81 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a portrait on February 20, 2018 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Craig Driver has spent each of the last two seasons on the Phillies’ major league staff as bullpen catcher/receiving coach, his first professional coaching position.

Driver spent the 2016-17 college season in a similar role on Yale’s coaching staff, helping them to the 2017 Ivy League Championship and 2017 Red Rolfe Division Championship, as well as clinching an appearance at the 2017 Corvallis Regional Final. That year, Yale won a program-record 34 wins.

Prior, the former collegiate catcher was on the University of Puget Sound’s staff as athletic recruitment coordinator and head assistant coach during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 collegiate seasons, as well as catching coach and first base coach in 2012-13. He was also an assistant for Central Washington University in 2013-13.

Driver holds a degree in business and a minor in mathematics, as well as a master’s in athletic administration.

Paco Figueroa, First Base Coach

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 26: Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) with first base coach Paco Figueroa (38) during a MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies, on September 26, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 26: Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) with first base coach Paco Figueroa (38) during a MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies, on September 26, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Paco Figueroa has already been with Kapler in two stops, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Phillies, and a third could be soon as part of the San Francisco Giants coaching staff.

This past season, his first in red pinstripes, Figueroa joined as outfield/baserunning coach, his first major league coaching position. A few weeks later, he was named first base coach.

Prior, Figueroa served as Dodgers minor league hitting coordinator for three seasons (2016-18), part of which he worked alongside Kapler, the then-Dodgers director of player development.

Figueroa’s resume also includes being a coach for Team Spain in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Figueroa also had some minor-league playing experience prior to assuming coaching duties. He was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth round of the 2005 amateur draft, and was previously selected by the Atlanta Braves in 2001 (42nd round), however he did not sign.

The Miami, Florida, native played six years in the Orioles’ system, one with the Phillies’ Double-A Reading in 2011, as well as for Spain in the 2013 World Baseball Classic/ l In 2006, was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team

Jim Gott, Bullpen Coach

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Former Los Angeles Dodgers Ismael Valdez #59 and bullpen coach Jim Gott #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies share a moment during batting practice prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers Alumni Game at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 4-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Former Los Angeles Dodgers Ismael Valdez #59 and bullpen coach Jim Gott #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies share a moment during batting practice prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers Alumni Game at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 4-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Similar to Craig Driver and Paco Figueroa, Jim Gott‘s hire as Phillies bullpen coach in November 2017 marked his first major league coaching assignment.

Gott might be especially willing to re-join Kapler, in California, as he previously spent eight years with the Los Angeles Angels as minor league pitching coordinator (2013-17). He was also pitching coach for the Arizona League Angels from 2010-12). He also grew up in California, given he is a 1977 graduate of San Marino High School (CA).

Gott played in parts of 14 seasons in the major leagues, including with the Giants from 1985 to 1987. He finished with a 56-74 record, 3.87 ERA, and 91 saves spanning 554 career appearances.

Perhaps Gott’s most notable career mark was that he earned his first Major League win in May 1982 opposite future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer; this game ended up being the first of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken‘s record-breaking games played streak.

Pedro Guerrero, Assistant Hitting Coach

TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 24: Assistant hitting coach Pedro Guerrero #88 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during batting practice before the start of MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 24: Assistant hitting coach Pedro Guerrero #88 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during batting practice before the start of MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 24, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Pedro Guerrero was named Phillies assistant hitting coach in November 2017, and prior, he spent two seasons as bench coach for Ogden Raptors, the rookie-level affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Similar to Paco Figueroa, Guerrero worked with Gabe Kapler in that organization, who at the time was their director of player development.

Guerrero played eight seasons in the Dodgers’ minor-league system from 2006 to 2013; the former infielder was originally signed as an amateur free agent in July 2006.

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Given Joe Girardi has many years of playing and coaching experience, even if one, or all four of these coaches leave for San Francisco, the 2009 World Series-winning manager would have no trouble finding a replacement.

Time will tell whom, if any, choose to re-join Kapler in the National League West.

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