The Philadelphia Phillies weren't planning on making any changes to the major league coaching staff this winter, even after the disastrous way the season ended. However, events this week have forced their hand, and the team of coaches working for manager Rob Thomson will look slightly different next season.
As announced on Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks poached Brian Kaplan, the Phillies assistant pitching coach and director of pitching development, to be the team's new pitching coach. Kaplan, 32, had held his position on the Phillies' MLB staff for three seasons.
Phillies quick to replace pitching coach Brian Kaplan who was poached by the Diamondbacks
Luckily, the Phillies wasted no time finding Kaplan's replacement. On Wednesday, the team named Mark Lowy the new assistant pitching coach, promoting him to work alongside pitching coach Caleb Cotham and bullpen coach Cesar Ramos.
The Phillies have named Mark Lowy assistant pitching coach on the major league coaching staff. Lowy will work alongside pitching coach Caleb Cotham and bullpen coach Cesar Ramos on manager Rob Thomson’s staff.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 13, 2024
Lowy, 32, has been with the Phillies for four seasons. He was previously the lead pitching development analyst for the big league team in 2024. Per the Phillies' press release:
"He originally joined the Phillies in 2021 as an integrative baseball performance associate in the club’s player development department. In 2022, Lowy was hired full time as pitching development analyst and took on additional responsibilities as upper-level pitching coordinator for the 2023 season."
Before beginning his career with the Phillies, Lowy worked for Cressey Sports Performance, the training facility founded by his predecessor Kaplan, per The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber. He also spent time working for Gains Sports Performance. The Ridgewood, N.J., native coached at Ridgewood High School from 2015 to 2019 after playing baseball at Gettysburg College (PA).
With Lowy installed as Cotham's assistant pitching coach, the Phillies will look to continue their run of pitching success in 2025, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen. The Phillies pitching staff accumulated the second-highest fWAR in MLB this past season, their 21.8 mark trailing only the Atlanta Braves' 23.5 fWAR.
Led by NL Cy Young finalist Zack Wheeler, Phillies starters finished second in the National League and third overall with 16.0 fWAR in 2024. The bullpen finished fourth in the NL and sixth overall with 5.8 fWAR.