Six former Phillies and coaches will join manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in Clearwater for spring training as special instructors.
Bobby Abreu, Mike Schmidt, Dan Plesac, Brad Lidge, Larry Bowa, and Charlie Manuel have each been extended formal invitations to Clearwater. Schmidt, Bowa, and Manuel are veterans of Phillies spring training having either played or coached with the team over several decades.
Schmidt, the greatest Phillie of all-time, joins the all-time winningest manager Manuel and one of the longest-tenured members of the organization with Bowa. The 72-year-old Bowa was transitioned from the dugout as Pete Mackanin’s bench coach to special advisor to general manager Matt Klentak, a title Manuel shares.