Kevin Long, the Phillies' hitting coach, was impressed by free agent hitter Max Kepler's physical abilities and bat speed during a training session. Kepler signed with the Phillies and has shown promising offensive statistics, moving up the team leaderboard in slugging percentage and OPS. Long aims to help Kepler return to his 2019 form when he hit 36 home runs, focusing on improving his swing and approach at the plate. Kepler's early success with the Phillies is attributed to the trust and collaboration between him and Long, with Kepler acknowledging Long's role in his development and improvement.