The Philadelphia Phillies have named Peter Fatse their new hitting coach, the team announced Tuesday. The club also hired Joe Cronin as assistant hitting coach, while Edwar Gonzalez will remain on the staff in the same role.
Fatse most recently worked as a hitting consultant for the Tampa Bay Rays, a position he began in June. Before that, he spent parts of five seasons as hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox, from 2022 through 2026. He succeeds Kevin Long, who was fired at the end of the season.
The Phillies reached the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season but were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card Series. The team's hitting unit will now be led by a coach with a background in both Boston and Tampa Bay.
Manager Don Mattingly praised the hire, saying he is "very excited to add Pete to our staff." Mattingly described Fatse as "a great communicator who prioritizes collaboration," adding that his skill set and approach make him "a great fit for the organization."
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing