Reading Fightin Phils

• Location: Reading, PA
• League: Eastern League 2013-2019; Double-A Northeast 2021; Eastern League 2022-
• Affiliation: Philadelphia Phillies 2013-present
• Ballpark: FirstEnergy Stadium 2013-present

Team History

The Reading Fightin Phils, formerly of the Eastern League and briefly in Double-A Northeast, generated a short-lived controversy with their October 2012 announcement of a nickname change. The Philadelphia Phillies farmhands play their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, PA.

The Fightins are now owned by their parent, the big Phils having bought the R-Phils in 2008.

The controversy was grounded in both tradition and being baseball's version of a favorite son. After years of being buffeted by affiliation and franchise changes, Reading - which is in the Phils' protected territory - joined Philly's farm system in 1967. Thus, a Phillies team in the Phillies' backyard that had gone by "Reading Phillies" with an aka of "R-Phils" for nearly a half a century had said: "We're changing brands." With many fans assuming "Phillies" was being abandoned, controversy was no surprise and might even have been the publicity-generating goal. It was quickly quelled by the November 4th reveal: "Fightin Phils" - a throwback to the 1950s Phillies "Whiz Kids".

The Fightins play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Luchadores de Reading (Reading Wrestlers).

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs	Hitting coach	Pitching coach	Coach
2013	62-80	12th	Dusty Wathan		Frank Cacciatore	David Lundquist
2014	66-76	9th(t)	Dusty Wathan		Rob Ducey	David Lundquist
2015	80-61	1st	Dusty Wathan	Lost League Finals	Mickey Morandini / Frank Cacciatore	David Lundquist
2016	89-52	1st	Dusty Wathan	Lost in 1st round	Frank Cacciatore	Steve Schrenk
2017	72-68	4th (t)	Greg Legg		John Mizerock	Steve Schrenk	Greg Brodzinski
2018	64-73	8th	Greg Legg		Kevin Riggs	Steve Schrenk	Greg Brodzinski Rico Brogna
2019	80-59	1st	Shawn Williams	Lost in 1st round	Kevin Riggs	Aaron Fultz	Nelson Prada
2020	Season cancelled
2021	48-65	10th	Shawn Williams		Tyler Henson	Brad Bergesen	Nerluis Martinez
2022	61-77	9th	Shawn Williams		Tyler Henson	Matt Hockenberry	Mycal Jones
2023	59-77	10th (t)	Al Pedrique		Tyler Henson	Brad Bergesen	Ray Ricker
2024			Al Pedrique		Brock Stassi	Phil Cundari, Riley McCauley	Karl Ellison