Tom Slater

Biography

COACHING CAREER Tom Slater brings nearly 35 years of combined coaching experience in the collegiate and professional ranks to Florida, featuring 17 seasons in college baseball alone (Head Coach, Auburn, 2005–08; Assistant Coach, Florida, 2004; Head Coach, VMI, 2001–03; Assistant Coach, Auburn, 1995–2000). Spending the past 17-plus years in professional baseball, Slater’s impressive resume features time with the New York Yankees (2009-17), New York Mets (2018-21), Miami Marlins (2022-24) and Philadelphia Phillies (2025) organizations. Producing more than 110 MLB draftees across his 17 years as a college coach alone, Slater has coached up 13 first-round draft selections and 47 players chosen within the top-10 rounds. Slater most recently served as the hitting coach of the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils in 2025. In his lone season in Reading, Slater coached infielder/outfielder Felix Reyes to the 2025 Eastern League MVP Award in addition to the EL batting title (.335). Reyes finished the season hitting 29 points higher than any other hitter while pacing the EL in slugging percentage (.572), OPS (.937), doubles (34), extra-base hits (53) and total bases (210). Three Fightin Phils were named EL All-Stars in Reyes, shortstop Aidan Miller and outfielder Hendry Mendez as Reading finished the season ranking inside the top-four of the EL in nearly every offensive statistic: second in total bases (1,699), second in doubles (245), third in home runs (118), third in batting (.239), third