Former major leaguer Gabe Kapler has been hired as the 54^th manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Vice President & General Manager Matt Klentak announced today.
Kapler, 42, has spent the last three years working for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the club's director of player development, overseeing their entire minor league system. The Dodgers' minor league teams went a combined 1,299-1,128 during his tenure with eight first-place finishes. Their .535 winning percentage over that span was fourth-best among all 30 major league clubs and second-best among all National League teams, trailing only the Phillies (.548).
"On behalf of the entire Phillies organization, I am very pleased to welcome Gabe Kapler to Philadelphia," said Klentak. "Gabe has a track record of leadership, winning, progressive thinking and working with young players, and we fully believe that he is the right person to guide this organization into the future."
"I'm equal parts honored, humbled and excited by the opportunity with the Phillies, an elite franchise in a city rich in history, tradition, sports excellence and with amazingly passionate fans," Kapler said. "I believe there is no better place to build a winning environment, and I take that task very seriously."
In 2007, Kapler took a brief hiatus from playing and managed the Greenville Drive, a single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. He also worked as a coach for Team Israel during the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifying period.
Kapler played parts of 12 seasons in the major leagues for the Detroit Tigers (1998-99), Texas Rangers (2000-02), Colorado Rockies (2002-03), Boston Red Sox (2003-06), Milwaukee Brewers (2008) and Tampa Bay Rays (2009-10). He finished with a .268 batting average, 176 doubles, 82 home runs, 77 stolen bases and a .329 on-base percentage in 1,104 games. He was a member of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox.
At 42 years old, Kapler is the third-youngest active manager in the major leagues, behind only the San Diego Padres' Andy Green (40) and the Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Cash (39). Kapler is also the youngest Phillies manager since Terry Francona was hired in 1996 at the age of 37.
An introductory press conference will be held later in the week following the conclusion of the World Series.