The Kevin Long era is over. Since he was hired in 2021 to replace Joe Dillon, the Philadelphia Phillies haven't missed the playoffs. Now, after several years of offensive backsliding, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has finally fired Long, according to a report first published by NBC Sports Philadelphia.
He was once the hottest commodity on the market as a hitting coach. Several Phillies, especially former Washington Nationals Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner, spoke highly of Long.
In 2022, he helped fix Brandon Marsh’s approach after the team came to Philadelphia in a deal that sent Logan O’Hoppe to the Los Angeles Angels. But as for developmental wins, that’s where Long’s track record ends.
Alec Bohm improved under his watch, but neither he nor Bryson Stott ever reached their collective ceilings. Since Long joined the club, not one Phillie has broken out offensively, and after the team finished 23rd in OBP, 28th in wRC+, and 22nd in OPS, it was time to move on.
Long is under contract for two more years after signing a three-year extension before the 2026 season. Unless he decides to cash in his paycheck from his couch, like Alex Cora, Long will almost certainly have offers from a myriad of teams around the league as a hitting coach.
But wait, there changes don't end there!
The Phillies have also decided to move on from infield coach Bobby Dickerson. He served in the role briefly in 2019, coaching a corps of Jean Segura, Maikel Franco, César Hernández, and Rhys Hoskins, before joining the San Diego Padres as bench coach and returning to Philadelphia for another stint from 2022-26.
Like Long, Dickerson is highly regarded around the league. His willingness to work long hours with individual players on specific drills is legendary. He helped Harper smoothly transition from right field to first base. He turned Bohm from one of the league’s worst defenders to a serviceable third baseman at the hot corner. He brought back vintage Trea Turner at shortstop for one fleeting season in 2025 and turned Stott into one of the game’s finest second basemen.
But like the Phillies’ offense under Long, the improvement didn’t stick. In 2026, Turner, Harper, and Bohm all had career-worst years. For the Phillies’ brass, it was time to inject some new blood into the system.
They also gave more consideration to who would sit in the manager’s chair. According to sources contacted by Jayson Stack of The Athletic, the Phillies reached out to Chase Utley and Raul Ibañez to interview for the vacant position. Both turned down the opportunity.
The Phillies will also have a new third base coach next year. The team elevated Anthony Contreras to the position last April from his role as manager of Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He will remain with the big-league club in 2027, but in a new role.
The overhaul continued throughout the lower levels of the system, with minor league infield coordinator Adam Everett and minor league outfield coordinator Andy Abad leaving the organization. Everett had worked with the Phillies since 2022; Abad spent 15 years with the club.
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