Chris Young replaces Rick Kranitz as Phillies pitching coach
Once two other teams started zeroing in on the 37-year-old Young as a potential pitching coach, Gabe Kapler promoted him.
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The Phillies strengthened their commitment to analytics on Wednesday by replacing pitching coach Rick Kranitz with his assistant, Chris Young.
Young, whose promotion was first reported by The Athletic, joined the Phillies after spending seven seasons in the scouting departments of the Astros and Padres. The Phillies promoted Young after two teams — including a division rival — began considering him to be their pitching coach.
Young, 37, brought an analytical mindset to the team's pitching staff and has a similar approach to manager Gabe Kapler, who has surrounded himself with analytically inclined coaches. Young was also responsible for positioning the outfielders for the team's defensive shifts.
Kranitz, 60, joined the Phillies in 2016 as Pete Mackanin's bullpen coach and was promoted to assistant pitching coach in 2017. Kapler promoted him to pitching coach before last season.
Kranitz had a good rapport with the pitching staff and oversaw the development of the young starters. But the rotation finished the season with the fifth-worst ERA in the National League.
Young pitched seven seasons in the minors before ending his career with the Camden Riversharks in 2008.