Don Mattingly, a former American League MVP and long-time manager and coach, had planned for the 2025 season to be his last in baseball, intending to retire after a final year as bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite chasing a World Series ring since his rookie season in 1983, he reversed this decision after meaningful conversations with his sons, particularly his general manager son Preston Mattingly of the Phillies, and his 11-year-old son Louis.
Mattingly accepted a multi-year deal to become the bench coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, working under manager Rob Thomson, who was also a former New York Yankees teammate. This move reunited Mattingly with his son Preston, who is the Phillies' general manager, making Preston his father's boss. Mattingly will be entering his 23rd consecutive season as a major league manager or coach. He replaced Mike Calitri, who moved to the role of the Phillies' major league field coordinator.
Despite his initial intent to retire, Mattingly's return to the Phillies stemmed from a desire to continue contributing to the game, especially after the Blue Jays lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hopes to help the high-priced and talented Phillies roster, which includes stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Zack Wheeler, achieve a World Series title. The Phillies have reached the playoffs for four straight seasons under Thomson, including a World Series appearance in 2022, but have not won a title since 2008. Mattingly has managed the Dodgers from 2011-2015 and the Marlins from 2016-2022, winning the 2020 National League Manager of the Year award with the Marlins.
