Joyner Leaves Phils, Joins Tigers

UPDATE, 9:17 PM: MLB.com’s Jason Beck is reporting that Mick Billmeyer will be headed to Detroit, as well. In October, the Phillies announced that Billmeyer’s contract would not be renewed.

—–

Wally, we hardly knew ye.

Wally Joyner put in his resignation with the Phillies earlier this afternoon to “pursue other opportunities” according to Todd Zolecki. It is now known there was a very specific opportunity Joyner had in mind: Joyner has reportedly accepted an offer from the Tigers

to become their hitting coach under new head coach Brad Ausmus.

During Joyner’s one-year tenure with the Phillies, the Phillies ranked 21st in batting average, 25th in on-base percentage, and 21st in slugging. Despite the lack of success, Joyner is generally credited for leading Domonic Brown through his breakout summer.