Phillies will make changes to minor-league managers

The Phillies enjoyed success throughout their minor-league system in 2016, but the men guiding those affiliates will change for 2017.

Dave Brundage, the manager at triple-A Lehigh Valley for four seasons, was fired earlier this week, a source confirmed Thursday. The (Allentown) Morning Call first reported the news.

Brundage, 51, led the IronPigs to 85 wins and an International League postseason berth. But the Phillies will opt for a different voice at triple A. Brundage publicly clashed in 2016 with one of the organization's top prospects, Nick Williams, which resulted in several benchings.

His dismissal will not be the only change in the minor-league managerial ranks. Dusty Wathan, the manager at double-A Reading for the previous five seasons, does not have a contract for 2017. He is Reading's all-time winningest manager and captured Eastern League manager of the year honors. Wathan is not likely to return to Reading for a sixth season.

The former catcher could be in line for a big-league job, either with the Phillies or elsewhere. Wathan, 43, was added to the major-league staff as an extra coach for the remainder of September.

Wathan, also, could be a candidate to replace Brundage at triple A.

Within the organization, there is high praise for Pat Borders, another former catcher who managed short-season Williamsport in 2015 and 2016. Borders, 53, could make a quick rise in the system.

Joe Jordan, the team's director of player development, said earlier this week he expects some changes to his staff. But he did not envision many.

"We have good baseball men," Jordan said.