Bonifay named player development director

PHILADELPHIA >> Trying to tap into the kind of work that helped the Houston Astros win a world title last year, the Phillies Thursday made official their hiring of Josh Bonifay as the club’s new player development director.

Bonifay, 40, served as the Astros’ minor league field coordinator last season, and had spent six seasons in the Houston organization as a minor league manager and hitting coach.

With the Phillies, he’ll be trying to make their prospects better.

“We interviewed an impressive group of candidates for this position,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. “Josh really stood out with his combination of leadership, experience and passion for developing players. We believe he is the ideal person to lead our player development efforts.”

While serving as a minor-league manager, Bonifay was twice selected as his respective league’s Manager of the Year, first in 2013 in the Appalachian League and later in 2015 in the Midwest League.

“My family and I are extremely excited about joining an organization with a rich history of producing homegrown major league players and I hope to continue the great tradition,” Bonifay said. “The Phillies are a tremendous organization with phenomenal people and I am thrilled to be a part of the family.”

After six years, Bonifay had left the Astros to spent 2017 as the Texas Rangers’ major league field coordinator (while Houston won the World Series). He started his coaching career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008-11.

He played eight seasons in the minor leagues with the Pirates (1999-2005) and Astros (2006).