PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Long is hoping to turn around the batting slump that has seen the Phillies lose four games in a row as they prepare for their matchup against the Yankees on Sunday night.
Just moments before the game at Citizens Bank Park, Long found himself reminiscing about the early days of his coaching journey, which began shortly after he wrapped up his minor league playing career in the spring of 1997. He took on the role of hitting coach for Kansas City’s Single-A affiliate in Wilmington, Delaware.
His initial responsibility was to nurture the organization’s promising talent, Carlos Beltran, and assist him in developing into a switch hitter.
Fast forward nearly 20 years, and Beltran was being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown.
During his speech, Beltran emphasized that becoming a switch hitter was “the biggest decision of my career.”
Beltran, who was just shy of 20 back then, naturally hit right-handed but worked extensively with Long to become one of the game’s premier switch hitters.
“That was my first assignment as a coach, and I’m really thankful that someone thought it was a good idea and entrusted that to me,” Long reflected on Sunday. “You taught me so much back then.”
At the time, Long was 31 and a standout player in Triple-A, while mentoring Beltran in his third professional season.
“It wasn’t about bringing him down,” Long said regarding his decision to teach Beltran to hit left-handed. “Honestly, I still wonder about that.”
They dove right into their routine.
“We practiced every morning around 10 or 11, went for lunch, and then hit again,” Long recounted.
Beltran, who hailed from Puerto Rico, was also working on his English, and both found ways to communicate effectively.
“We had quite a few Spanglish moments,” Long chuckled.
On Sunday, Beltran noted that their time together was pivotal for both his career on and off the field.
“There’s no doubt you played a key role in my career. Sure, people see the numbers and home runs, but you and I remember the conversations that made it all happen,” Beltran expressed.
Beltran’s talent was always clear.
“His skills were exceptional: arm strength, speed, power, bat speed—all of it was impressive,” Long noted. He was an athlete of elite caliber with remarkable abilities in every aspect.
Though Beltran faced challenges at the plate during much of the 1997 season, he rebounded in the following year, starting in Wilmington before making the leap to the majors in September.
In 1999, Beltran earned the American League Rookie of the Year award.
“It was obvious how talented he was going to be. He could do things on the field that no one else could match,” Long remarked.
They crossed paths again before the 2014 season when Beltran signed with the Yankees, reuniting with Long, who was serving as hitting coach.
“It was wonderful to reunite after so many years. It felt special that we both experienced such success together,” Long said.
Even though he wasn’t in Cooperstown with Beltran on Sunday, he was aware that his former player was acknowledging their shared journey.
“This is a fantastic story,” Long added.
