Five straight seasons of diminishing playoff returns for the Philadelphia Phillies have created a growing feeling that things need to change. The organization already made one major move by cutting ties with longtime hitting coach Kevin Long, but his replacement, Peter Fatse, is confident that the current core can get the job done.
Fatse had previously served as hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox from 2022 until late April of this year, when he was dismissed as part of a purge of manager Alex Cora’s staff. The 39-year-old caught on with the eventual American League champion Tampa Bay Rays as a hitting consultant to finish out the 2026 season. Now Fatse is tasked with getting the most out of a very top-heavy Phillies lineup. But just how much can be done to fix an offense that relies so heavily on Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber?
New hitting coach Peter Fatse is already confident in the Phillies' offense
Fatse thinks he has something to work with as the Phils are currently constructed. “It’s a group that has a chance to win a World Series,” he said. “They’re positioned to win… They’ve been one of the best teams in baseball for a while. They’ve been such a strong club, but there was a desire for more… [I’ll have] a chance to work with guys that have been in this league for 10-plus years that have done it at a high level.”
Really liked this answer from Pete Fatse on what enticed him about the Phillies job yesterday with @bradfo on @BBisntBoring.
— Jack Fritz (@JackFritzWIP) November 4, 2026
They’re attacking their hitting development head on and I like how convicted they are in their belief Fatse is their guy. pic.twitter.com/tZHiQJDKR6
Harper, Schwarber, and Trea Turner are all multiple-time All-Stars who have over a decade of big-league experience each. But outside of those three, the Phillies' offense is notably weak given their excessive payroll.
Turner has been productive for a long time, but he’s coming off the worst season of his career. Cleanup hitter Alec Bohm reached free agency this winter, and there’s a good chance he won’t re-sign. Bryson Stott has had stretches of above-average play, but isn't a high-end offensive threat. Brandon Marsh had a Jekyll-and-Hyde 2026 season, while entrenched catcher J.T. Realmuto is in the twilight of his career. Center fielder Justin Crawford merely treaded water in his rookie season, and the Phillies have no starting right fielder. There are a lot of question marks in Fatse’s new offense.
Aside from improvements to any of that lot, there are some intriguing possibilities to add to the mix. Top prospect Aidan Miller is finally healthy and playing in Arizona Fall League games after a back injury scuttled most of his 2027. If all goes according to plan, he could play an important role for the team next year. Additionally, the Phils have a lot of money coming off the books this winter and could reinvest some of those savings into a middle-of-the-order bat like Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki.
It’s unclear what the Phillies’ roster will look like when the 2027 season begins, but at the very least, it should have a few reinforcements. A long-awaited new hitting coach should inspire some confidence in the fanbase. He's sure confident in his squad.
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