The Phillies have hired Josh Bonifay as director, player development, the club announced today. Bonifay, 40, joins the Phillies after spending the 2018 season as the minor league field coordinator for the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros. 
"Over the past several weeks, we interviewed an impressive group of candidates for this position," said Phillies General Manager Matt Klentak. "Josh really stood out with his combination of leadership, experience and passion for developing players. We believe he is the ideal person to lead our player development efforts, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Philadelphia."
Last season marked Bonifay's second stint with Houston after previously spending six seasons as a minor league manager and hitting coach. Bonifay managed the Greeneville Astros for three seasons from 2013-14 and 2016 and also spent a season as manager of the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2015. He was twice selected as his respective league's Manager of the Year, first in 2013 in the Appalachian League and later in 2015 in the Midwest League. Prior to his minor league managing career, he served as a minor league hitting coach in 2011 and 2012.
"My family and I are extremely excited about joining an organization with a rich history of producing homegrown major league players and I hope to continue the great tradition," said Bonifay. "The Phillies are a tremendous organization with phenomenal people and I am thrilled to be a part of the family."
In between his two stints with the Astros, Bonifay spent the 2017 season with the Texas Rangers as major league field coordinator. He started his coaching career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in their minor league system as a player/coach from 2008-11.
Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 24th round of the June 1999 draft out of UNC-Wilmington, Bonifay played eight seasons in the minor leagues with the Pirates (1999-2005) and Astros (2006). In 812 minor league games, he hit .284 with an .842 OPS and played every position except catcher and shortstop.
Bonifay is the son of Cam Bonifay, who was general manager of the Pirates from 1993-2001 and currently serves as special assistant to the general manager for the Cincinnati Reds.