Kevin Long leaves Washington Nationals to become Philadelphia Phillies’ hitting coach

Before he returned to the Washington Nationals for a fourth season as the club’s Hitting Coach under manager Davey Martinez, Kevin Long looked around the league last winter for the sort of multi-year deal he’d signed in previous years.

“There were discussions going on and we were talking about — my contract had expired, and I haven’t had less than a three-year deal in a long, long time,” Long explained last March, “so that’s what I was looking for, and those weren’t out there, and it wasn’t something that I had to make a decision about. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, but it was one that, I thought that was going to be available, and with COVID and the pandemic, it certainly affected that, but I’m very grateful that I’m here, and happy that I’m back with the Nationals, and it’s business.”

Though he explored his options, Long said his desire all along was to return to the Nationals after spending the previous three years in D.C.

“Absolutely. This is my No. 1 choice,” he said. “And the place that — you know what ... I’ve built some relationships here and gotten close to a lot of guys, and again, we won a World Series with pretty much the nucleus of this club, so very comfortable in D.C., I’m very comfortable with the Nationals’ organization, and I couldn’t be happier that I’m back.”

Multiple reports over the weekend said that the Nationals were making changes to Martinez’s staff for 2022, with Third Base coach Bob Henley and First Base coach Randy Knorr moving into different roles within the organization.

As for the remaining members of the coaching staff, Washington Post writer Jesse Dougherty wrote on Sunday that all the remaining coaches on Martinez’s 2021 staff, Bench Coach Tim Bogar, Pitching Coach Jim Hickey, Bullpen Coach Henry Blanco, Long, and Assistant Hitting Coach Pat Roessler had, “… been extended opportunities to return in their current positions.”

The one question mark, the WaPost writer suggested, was Long, who, “multiple people with knowledge of his situation,” said, was, “open to returning again, though he [would] consider other opportunities in the coming weeks.”

Less than 24 hours later, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli and Matt Gelb are reporting that Long is joining Joe Girardi’s staff in Philadelphia as the Phillies’ new Hitting Coach.

Both the WaPost’s Dougherty and MASN’s Mark Zuckerman have since confirmed the news: