Samuel, 49, replaces Davey Lopes, who left last week after he could not agree to a new contract with the Phillies. Sam Perlozzo, the Phillies' third-base coach the last two seasons, will move to first.
Despite Samuel's penchant for stealing bases, manager Charlie Manuel said Perlozzo will take control of the Phillies' running game, the job that had belonged to Lopes since 2007. Perlozzo will remain in charge of infield defense and Samuel will coach the outfielders, a job that also previously belonged to Lopes.
"I have two coaches in [Perlozzo] and Juan that are very versatile, and I think this is a big addition to our coaching staff," Manuel said. "When I talked to [Perlozzo] on the phone, I could see how much he was interested in being a baserunning coach again, and I always felt like the baserunning coach should coach first base."
Manuel acknowledged that Lopes' departure was difficult. The Phillies had the best stolen-base percentage in baseball during each of Lopes' four seasons on the coaching staff.
"Davey might have been the best base-stealing coach I've been around, and I've said that before," the manager said. "He could read pitchers real good . . . and anything that would give you an edge, Davey would come up with it.
"When you talk about breaks and reads and the fundamental part of running the bases, there are a lot of areas we can improve on. Talking to [Perlozzo], he is excited about doing that, and I think our baserunning is going to be fine."
