Wally Joyner (left) sits with hitting coach Steve Henderson (center) and Mike Schmidt (right)
The Phillies coaching staff picture got clearer today as the Phillies announced that both Wally Joyner and Juan Samuel will return in their positions in which they opened the 2013 season. Wally Joyner will serve as assistant hitting coach and Juan Samuel will return to first base, after spending the last several weeks of 2013 as third base coach.
Joyner is a bit of a surprise, as upon the Larry Bowa and Pete Mackanin announcements the team said that Joyner opted not to return. That news disappointed many. Joyner was credited as helping Domonic Brown take on All-Star form after several years of not being able to find himself in the major leagues.
The Phillies have two more slots to fill: pitching coach and bullpen coach. Rod Nichols reportedly was in consideration for the pitching coach job; no announcement has been made as of yet on how his interview went. The position of "catching coach" that Mick Billmeyer filled last season is not a traditional coaching position. Due to restrictions on number of coaches in uniform for a game, the Phillies may not hire anyone for that position.
