The Phillies announced a series of personnel changes on Thursday including promoting farm director Luke Murton to serve as assistant general manager for hitting.
The change at the top of the Phillies’ player development department will be effective either when the minor-league year ends in November or when a replacement is hired, according to a team source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to candidly discuss the moves.
Murton’s move is particularly noteworthy given the farm system’s recent struggles. Many outlets have dropped the Phillies’ system in their rankings due to Aidan Miller’s injury-marred absence and the graduation of top prospects Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford. Although the Phillies have some real talent (Gage Wood, Francisco Renteria, etc.) in the minor leagues, they simply do not possess the depth other teams have in their farm system; that has hurt them in the rankings as well.
The changes will affect the major- and minor-league sides of the organization, including a promotion for minor league operations director Edwin Soto (who moves to manager of baseball administration) and director of international operations Ray Robles (who becomes director of minor league and international operations).
The only change immediately in effect was Dan Aucoin’s promotion to assistant GM for research and information — a role left vacant when Ani Kilambi departed for the Washington Nationals’ GM job in December 2025. Others will take on some responsibilities for their new jobs, but remain in their current roles for now. Robles will take over as director of minor-league operations when long-time director Lee McDaniel retires in January, while Soto will remain in his job until the minor-league year ends or a replacement is hired.
Soto’s promotion also frees up Ned Rice, the Phillies’ vice president of baseball operations and assistant GM, to take a greater role on the business operations side. Soto and director of baseball operations Corinne Landrey will take over some of Rice’s responsibilities, though Rice will still oversee contract negotiations.

