Kevin Long, who was the New York Mets’ hitting coach during their last National League pennant run, is set to return to the team’s coaching staff in 2027. The move comes shortly after he was dismissed from his position with the Philadelphia Phillies, signaling a reunion with the Mets as they aim to reach the World Series for the first time since 2015.
Long, 59, was fired by the Phillies after the 2026 season, ending a five-year stint as their hitting coach under manager Rob Thomson. Thomson was replaced in April by interim bench coach Don Mattingly, who later secured a two-year contract to continue leading the team. The Phillies decided not to retain Long as part of the coaching changes. Within the same week of his firing, Long scheduled an interview to discuss a role on the Mets’ 2027 coaching staff, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Long’s career has seen him return to familiar ground with multiple franchises. He was the Mets’ hitting coach from 2015 to 2017, sandwiched between his time with the New York Yankees from 2007 to 2014 and the Washington Nationals from 2018 to 2021. His track record includes appearances in the World Series with four different teams: the Yankees in 2009, the Mets in 2015, the Nationals in 2019, and the Phillies in 2022.
The Mets’ recent struggles contributed to the coaching overhaul. The team missed the postseason and finished last in the National League East with a 74-88 record in 2026. During that period, Carlos Mendoza was hired by the Phillies as their third-base and infielders’ coach. Mendoza had previously managed the Mets but was fired less than four months before taking his new role in Philadelphia.
Long’s impact as a hitting coach is reflected in the power numbers his teams have produced. Under his guidance, the Phillies hit 220 home runs in the 2023 season, the second-most in the franchise’s history. That year also saw six different Phillies players reach at least 20 home runs, setting a club record. The Mets, during Long’s 2016 season, recorded a franchise-high 218 home runs. Meanwhile, the Yankees led Major League Baseball in home runs (1,584) and RBIs (6,206) from 2007 to 2014, placing second in runs scored (6,485) during that span.
The Mets’ 2015 National League pennant remains their most recent trip to the World Series, and Long was their hitting coach during that run. His return is part of the Mets’ effort to rebuild their coaching staff and improve offensive production as they look to end an 11-year absence from baseball’s championship series.
Long’s interview for the 2027 coaching staff position is the latest confirmed development in the Mets’ offseason plans. At this stage, no further details about his specific role or contract have been released.
According to Yahoo Sports.
