The Philadelphia Phillies have signed hitting coach Kevin Long to a two-year extension, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Given that Long was already under contract for the 2023 season, the Phillies now have one of the most respected hitting coaches in the sport signed for three more seasons.
Back in mid-October, there had been some buzz that Long was going to be a hot managerial candidate. It’s unclear if he ultimately interviewed for any vacancies, but clearly he was not given his first shot to be a manager.
While those around him clearly hope that Long one day does get a shot to be a skipper, manager Rob Thomson certainly will be happy to have the 55-year-old back on his staff in 2023 and beyond.
“Kevin and I have a longtime relationship, and he just — he’s so good for me because he keeps me grounded, he keeps me balanced,” Thomson said of Long prior to the NLCS. “And he’s got so much energy that when the players come to the cage, if they’re tired, by the time they leave the cage, they’re full of energy and they’re ready to go.
“So getting those guys prepared in that way, he’s a genius at it.”
Long — who former manager Joe Girardi once compared to Nick Saban — joined the Phillies’ coaching staff last offseason, after previously having served as the hitting coach for the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Washington Nationals.
Kyle Schwarber revived his career working with Long in D.C. during the 2021 season, and his hiring as hitting coach probably didn’t hurt as the Phillies attempted to woo the eventual 2022 NL home run leader last offseason.
In 2023, the Phillies hope that Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh continue to develop under Long’s tutelage. Helping Nick Castellanos to bounce back after a disappointing first season with the Phillies will also be on the agenda for Long.
And who knows, perhaps Long will once again get to work with Trea Turner in 2023.
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