Phillies hire Peter Fatse as new hitting coach

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Philadelphia baseball operations has hired Peter Fatse as its new hitting coach, according to a source confirming the move. The Phillies have not publicly announced the hiring as of the time of the report, but the appointment would fill the vacancy created by the team’s decision earlier this month not to retain veteran hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson for next season.

Fatse most recently worked with the Boston Red Sox as their hitting coach from December 2021 until the club, along with manager Alex Cora and other members of the coaching staff, was let go in April of the most recent season. If the Phillies proceed as reported, Fatse would transition directly from the Red Sox organization to Philadelphia for the 2027 campaign.

The change comes after the Phillies removed the interim tag and agreed to a two-year contract with Don Mattingly on Oct. 16. That same general period featured the organization’s end-of-season coaching staff decisions, as president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that Long and Dickerson would not return next season at his Oct. 16 press conference.

Fatse’s playing background includes being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 24th round of the 2009 Draft. After two seasons in the Brewers’ organization, he shifted into instruction and training, opening the Advanced Performance Academy in 2010.

He later returned to professional baseball when he joined the Minnesota Twins’ organization as their Minor League hitting coordinator prior to the 2019 season. Following that season, Fatse moved to the Red Sox, first serving as assistant hitting coach and then being promoted to hitting coach, roles he held across two seasons before his dismissal in April.

If Fatse’s hiring is confirmed internally, his assignment would be to help address the production drop Philadelphia experienced in the team’s recent run of offensive outputs. The club posted 747 runs in 2022, 796 in 2023, 784 in 2024, and 778 in 2025, but ranked 19th in MLB with 713 runs in the most recent season, according to the reporting.

The Phillies have signalled that roster changes may follow as they prepare for next season, and the reported rationale for the hitting-coach move is that a new voice and different approach could help generate improvement at the plate. With Mattingly now in place as manager and the organization having already reshaped portions of its coaching staff, Fatse’s role would be central to Philadelphia’s plans for a rebound offensive identity.

A final confirmation of Fatse’s duties, reporting structure, and start date would come from the Phillies directly, since the hiring was reported as not yet officially confirmed by the club at the time of the source report. Until that happens, the appointment remains pending formal announcement from Philadelphia’s baseball operations.