Strike Out the Stigma

Preston Mattingly was promoted to his current position in November 2024 after originally being hired by the Phillies as director of player development on Sept. 29, 2021. Prior to joining the Phillies, Preston spent five seasons (2017-21) with the San Diego Padres, most recently as coordinator of major league advance scouting and game planning after serving as manager of scouting for three years. In his role with the Padres, he headed up information distribution to the pitchers, working with both the research and development department and the coaching staff.

A first-round selection (31st overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the June 2006 draft, Preston subsequently spent six seasons playing in their minor league system as an infielder and outfielder. Following his playing time, he enrolled at Lamar University in Texas, where he served as captain of their NCAA Division I basketball team. He graduated from Lamar in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in business.

Born in Englewood, N.J., and raised in Evansville, Ind., he is the son of Don Mattingly, who played 14 years in the major leagues for the New York Yankees and is currently serving as bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays after 12 seasons as manager of the Dodgers (2011-15) and Miami Marlins (2016-22). Preston currently lives in Clearwater, Fla., with his wife Ellie.

Don Mattingly played his entire 14-year Major League career from 1982-95 with New York Yankees. He amassed 2,153 hits, 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI and a .307 lifetime average in 1,785 games. He was a six-time American League All-Star and was voted starting first baseman for the American League in the 1987 game.

His accolades include: nine-time Rawlings® Gold Glove Award winner at first base, 1985 American League Most Valuable Player, three-time Silver Slugger award winner, 1984 batting champion (.343 average), and the 2020 National League Manager of the Year award winner. In 1997, the New York Yankees retired Don’s number 23, as well as dedicated a plaque to the franchise legend in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

Don currently serves as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has been on staff as a coach for the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Dodgers, as well as manager for the Dodgers and Miami Marlins. Born and raised in Evansville, IN, Don married his wife, Lori, in December 2010 in Indiana. He has four sons: Taylor, Preston, Jordan and Louis Riley as well as two stepsons, Isaac and Reynolds. Don created and runs Mattingly Charities, which is designed to serve underprivileged youth by supporting programs and donating equipment that promote baseball and softball participation in conjunction with other developmentally related activities.

Dr. Deanna Nobleza is Director of Mental Health for the Philadelphia Phillies. In this role, she oversees the implementation of mental health services and programming for players, coaches, and staff. Dr. Nobleza completed her medical degree and combined residency in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She was the first staff psychiatrist at Princeton University where she worked with Division I athletes. Prior to joining the Phillies, Dr. Nobleza served as assistant provost and student counseling director at Thomas Jefferson University and helped develop the COVID-19 behavioral health response for the Jefferson Enterprise.