Jose Flores named Phillies first base coach, filling out Gabe Kapler’s staff

Gabe kapler

Gabe Kapler's staff appears to be finalized. (SportsTalkPhilly)

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

Gabe Kapler's coaching staff appears to be complete. 

Jose Flores has been hired as the Philadelphia Phillies first base coach, the team announced Thursday. Additionally, Flores will serve as the team's infielding and baserunning instructor. 

Flores, 44, appeared in 16 major league games during his playing career. Most recently, he's served as a minor league infield coordinator in the Chicago Cubs organization. 

First base coach was the final position on Kapler's staff that needed to be filled. Kapler's staff in 2018 will be as follows: John Mallee, hitting coach; Pedro Guerrero, assistant hitting coach; Rick Kranitz, pitching coach; Chris Young, assistant pitching coach; Dusty Wathan, third base coach; Rob Thomson, bench coach and Jim Gott, bullpen coach. Kranitz is the only member of Pete Mackanin's coaching staff that will return, and even he isn't back in the same role, as he will become the pitching coach after serving as Bob McClure's assistant pitching coach in 2017. 

Juan Samuel, a Phillies Wall of Famer that has been on the staff in some role since 2011, evidently will not return. There was some thought he could be the first base coach, after most recently serving as the team's third base coach. Samuel was interviewed for the managerial job, though it's unclear how serious of a candidate that the Phillies viewed him. Perhaps he'll take on another role with the Phillies. 

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