Joyner, Samuel Return to Phillies Coaching Staff

Wally Joyner and Juan Samuel will both be back on the Phillies coaching staff for the 2014 season, Manager Ryne Sandberg announced today.  Joyner and Samuel will continue in their roles as assistant hitting coach and first base coach, respectively.

Joyner, 51, returned to major league coaching this past season after a four-year hiatus.  He had previously spent two years (2007-08) as the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres and four years (2009-12) as the lead hitting instructor for MLB International.

The 2014 season will be Samuel’s fourth on the Phillies coaching staff.  He served as the third base coach for the first two years before moving to first base for this past season.  Samuel, 52, spent the final six weeks of the 2013 season as the third base coach following Sandberg’s promotion to manager.  Before joining the Phillies, Samuel coached for the Detroit Tigers (1999-2005) and Baltimore Orioles (2007-10), while also spending part of the 2010 season as interim manager for Baltimore.  He will also continue as the outfield/baserunning instructor.

In addition to the returning coaches, the Phillies have outrighted four players off the 40-man roster: right-hander J.C. Ramirez, left-hander Cesar Jimenez and outfielders Roger Bernadina and Casper Wells.