Kevin Long appears to have made a favorable first impression in the New York Mets' managerial search.
Long, the Mets’ hitting coach the last three seasons, is the favorite as the front office begins the interview process to replace Terry Collins, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Bob Klapisch of The Record (Bergen County) also is reporting that Long, who reportedly interviewed for the job last week, is the early top choice.
The 50-year-old Long has drawn praise for his communication skills and is credited with helping Daniel Murphy to alter his swing and become one of baseball’s elite hitters.