Don Mattingly had decided that the 2025 baseball season would be his final one. The former 1985 American League MVP and manager planned to retire after serving as a bench coach for the Toronto team, whether or not he achieved the World Series victory that had eluded him since his rookie year with the New York Yankees in 1983.
However, Mattingly changed his mind after discussions with his son, Louis Mattingly, who played a significant role in persuading his father to continue in the sport. This led Mattingly to sign a multi-year deal to work as a bench coach under Toronto manager Rob Thomson, who is a friend from their shared time with the Yankees.
After the Blue Jays lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mattingly felt he still had more to contribute to the game. With his son Preston now serving as the general manager of the Phillies, Mattingly decided to join the Philadelphia team as a bench coach, aiming to help the team succeed and possibly assist Bryce Harper in regaining his top form.
Having managed and coached in the major leagues for 23 consecutive seasons, including the last three with Toronto, Mattingly expressed satisfaction in his role with the Blue Jays but welcomed the opportunity to bring his experience to the Phillies. He replaced Mike Calitri as the Phillies’ major league field coordinator, with Thomson praising the addition of Mattingly’s expertise to the coaching staff.
Mattingly’s successful managerial stints with the Dodgers and Marlins, including leading the latter to their first playoff appearance in nearly two decades, highlighted his coaching acumen. Despite his impressive career as a player and manager, Mattingly revealed that he no longer aspired to manage a team again due to the demands of the role.
With the Phillies aiming to secure their first championship since 2008, Mattingly expressed his desire to achieve that milestone alongside his son, emphasizing the significance of potentially winning a title together.
Philadelphia, under Thomson’s leadership, has consistently reached the playoffs but has yet to clinch a World Series victory. The Mattinglys are hopeful that their collaboration with the Phillies will lead to breaking this championship drought and fulfilling their shared goal of winning a title.