[ad_1]
Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan interviewed with the Marlins and Royals about their managerial vacancies this previous week, NBC Sports activities Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury reviews. Wathan has been becoming these interviews in between gaps within the Phils’ postseason schedule, talking with Miami final Sunday (the day after the Phillies clinched their NLDS matchup with the Braves) and the Royals on Thursday (between Video games 2-3 of the NLCS).
Wathan has by no means managed on the Main League degree, however he did amass fairly a little bit of dugout expertise within the minors from 2008-17, managing associates at 5 totally different ranges of Philadelphia’s farm system. He was additionally a candidate for the Phillies’ managerial publish previous to the 2018 season, and after that job went to Gabe Kapler, Wathan nonetheless acquired a promotion to the MLB teaching employees as the brand new third base coach.
Following the 2018 season, Wathan interviewed for the Rangers’ managerial opening that was ultimately stuffed by Chris Woodward. Now, the 49-year-old Wathan is once more on the radar for groups in want of a brand new skipper, with the Kansas Metropolis job including some explicit intrigue given Wathan’s longstanding ties to the group.
A veteran of 14 seasons within the minor leagues, Wathan’s solely MLB expertise got here in a Royals uniform, as he appeared in three video games through the 2002 season. Past that cup of espresso, Wathan additionally carried on a part of a household custom in Kansas Metropolis, as his father John spent 47 years with the group in all kinds of roles, together with participant (from 1976-85) and supervisor (1987-91). The elder Wathan solely simply retired on the finish of the 2022 season, and Dina Blevins (John’s daughter and Dusty’s sister) nonetheless works for the Royals as a part of their neighborhood affect division.
Wathan is the third identified candidate to interview with the Royals of their seek for Mike Matheny’s substitute, becoming a member of bench coach Pedro Grifol and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro. Grifol and Quartraro are additionally candidates in Miami, and each have acquired a second interview for the place.
Provided that the Marlins are already within the second-interview section, it will seem to be they’re comparatively shut to creating a choice on their new supervisor, although there haven’t been numerous public particulars concerning the crew’s search. Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker can be reportedly one of many main contenders for the job, although it isn’t identified if he has additionally gotten a second interview, or if the pool of Schumaker/Grifol/Quatraro may comprise a gaggle of finalists. Former Blue Jays supervisor John Gibbons additionally interviewed with the Marlins, in response to MLB Community’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link), nevertheless it doesn’t seem that Gibbons continues to be into consideration.
[ad_2]
