Phillies promote Preston Mattingly amid front office shakeup – NewsLooks

Phillies promote Preston Mattingly amid front office shakeup Newslooks Washington, D.C. Mary Siddiqi Evening Edition Preston Mattingly, the son of former Yankees star Don Mattingly, has been promoted to general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, working under president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Current general manager Sam Fuld will transition to president of business operations in 2026 after completing his MBA. The move is consistent with the Phillies’ long-term leadership succession plan.

Preston Mattingly’s GM promotion overview

• Preston Mattingly, son of Major League Baseball legend Don Mattingly, has been promoted to general manager of the Phillies.
• Current general manager Sam Fuld is pursuing an MBA at Wharton and will become president of business operations in 2026.
• Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will mentor Mattingly as a potential successor.
• Mattingly’s background includes minor league playing, college basketball leadership and executive roles with the Padres and Phillies.
• The Phillies also announced the promotions of Luke Merton (director of player development) and Edvo Gonzalez (director of hitting development).
• Don Mattingly’s illustrious career included six All-Star appearances and managing two MLB teams.

deep eyes

Preston Mattingly’s promotion to Phillies general manager marks a pivotal moment for him and the team. The news is part of a wider restructuring plan to align the team’s leadership with its vision for the future. Mattingly, whose father Don Mattingly is a legendary first baseman for the New York Yankees and a veteran Major League Baseball manager, will work alongside current president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

The transition is particularly strategic given that Dombrowski is under contract with Philadelphia through 2027. Dombrowski’s experienced leadership will provide Mattingly with valuable learning opportunities over the next few seasons. If Dombrowski chooses to retire when his contract expires, the team will have a well-coached successor.

Sam Fuld, who has been the Phillies’ general manager since January 2026, will remain in his role as general manager, but with a shift in focus as he completes his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This academic endeavor provides important preparation for Fuld’s move into the position of President of Business Operations, which is expected to begin upon graduation in October 2020. Prior to that, Fuld and Mattingly will work together to complete the general manager duties to ensure the continuity of the team’s executive structure.

Fuld discussed the evolution of his career, saying, “I’ve always been interested in the business side of baseball. It’s always attracted me.” He noted that the opportunity came about with Dombrowski and the Phillies A chat with Team Managing Partner John Middleton. The three discussed the short-, medium- and long-term implications, ultimately concluding that Fuld’s move to commercial operations would benefit both him and the organization.

Current president of business operations Dave Buck plans to retire in December, and during this transition period several key individuals will step in to assume the responsibilities of that role until Fuld is ready to take over.

Mattingly’s career trajectory demonstrates his deep love for baseball. He played in the minor leagues from 2006 to 2011, experiencing the game firsthand before moving into a leadership position. After retiring, Mattingly attended Lamar University, where he served as captain of the basketball team and earned his bachelor’s degree in 2016. His time with the San Diego Padres from 2017 to 2021 allowed him to develop his scouting and analytics expertise, eventually becoming a major league advance scouting and game planning coordinator. He joined the Phillies as Director of Player Development in January 2021 and was promoted to Assistant General Manager of Player Development in 2022.

Mattingly is both proud and excited about his promotion. “Honestly, I just love baseball. It means so much to me. It’s been my life since I was born,” he shared. “I’m excited to work with the guys in our organization. They challenge you every day and we all share the same vision of helping the Philadelphia Phillies achieve their ultimate goal, which is to win a World Series.”

The Phillies’ recent promotion reflects the organization’s emphasis on developing talent within its ranks. Along with Mattingly’s promotion, Luke Merton has been promoted to director of player development, while Edvo Gonzalez serves as director of hitting development. These moves underscore the Phillies’ strategic approach to developing a cohesive and forward-thinking leadership team.

Dombrowski’s praise of Mattingly and Fuld emphasized their unique qualifications. “They’re great in every way. We have a great relationship, and really, you look to the future and say, ‘OK, how is this going to play out?'” Dombrowski said. His comments underscore the Phillies’ comprehensive succession plan, which is designed to maintain continuity and excellence in leadership.

Preston Mattingly’s legacy comes full circle with his promotion. His father, Don Mattingly, was a six-time All-Star with the Yankees from 1982 to 1995. Don Mattingly’s leadership transitioned seamlessly into his managerial careers with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2011-2015) and Miami Marlins (2016-2022). The Mattingly family has deep ties to baseball, adding a traditional element to Preston Mattingly’s new role with the Phillies.

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