The Philadelphia Phillies unveiled a significant shakeup within their front office on Friday, ushering in a new era with a fresh general manager, new player development director, and a future president of business operations.
In a move that will take effect in May 2026, current GM Sam Fuld will transition to become the Phillies’ president of business operations after completing his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School. Until then, Fuld will continue to serve as general manager and remain active in baseball operations.
Preston Mattingly, formerly the assistant GM of player development, was promoted to general manager, while Luke Murton ascended to the role of player development director after serving as the hitting development director. Edwar Gonzalez will take over as hitting development director, moving up from assistant director.
“This is a great situation for both Sam and Preston — two of the brightest young minds in the game,” said Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski.
Fuld had long been considered Dombrowski’s potential successor, with many speculating he could eventually take over as president of baseball operations elsewhere in MLB. Instead, Fuld will succeed longtime executive Dave Buck, who is departing at the end of the year. In the interim, managing partner John Middleton and other top executives will oversee business operations.
“This opportunity wasn’t something I had thought about much until I discussed it with Dave and John this spring,” Fuld said. “But once I understood it better, it became a compelling professional and personal opportunity.”
While Fuld will focus on business operations, he made it clear that his passion for baseball remains strong. “I’ll always love this game,” he said. “I’m excited for this new role, but my commitment to helping the Phillies win a World Series remains unchanged.”
Mattingly’s promotion also signals the Phillies’ confidence in his potential. Having been considered a future GM, his move from player development to assistant GM in 2023 ensured that the organization wouldn’t lose him to another team.
“I’ve never had a specific goal to be a GM, but I’ve always admired leaders like A.J. Preller and Dave Dombrowski,” said Mattingly. “It’s exciting to take this next step, and I look forward to continuing to grow in this role.”
Meanwhile, Murton’s promotion to player development director from hitting development director follows his success in overseeing hitting growth, and Gonzalez’s shift into the hitting development role reflects his expertise and leadership within the organization.
“Luke’s ability to connect with both staff and players is remarkable,” Mattingly added. “His intelligence and growth in the hitting side of things make him ideally suited to lead our Minor League system.”
