Phil Regan, a former MLB pitcher, coach and manager, died on July 8, 2026, at the age of 89. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

Regan died peacefully of natural causes, his attorney Matthew Blit told the Associated Press. Nicknamed "The Vulture" by teammate Sandy Koufax for his knack for timely relief appearances, Regan earned 58 wins in 446 career relief outings.

Regan debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 1960. In 1966, his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was named an All-Star, going 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 65 games and a National League-leading 21 saves. Over his career, he appeared in 551 games, posting a 96-81 record with a 3.84 ERA and 92 saves. His ERA as a reliever (3.30) was more than a full run lower than as a starter (4.44).

He also played for the Chicago Cubs (1968) and Chicago White Sox (1972). A native of Otsego, Michigan, Regan transitioned to coaching after his playing career. He served as head baseball coach at Grand Valley State University for nine years, managed in Dominican and Venezuelan winter leagues for over two decades, and managed the Baltimore Orioles in 1995. He was also a pitching coach for four MLB teams (Seattle, Cleveland, Cubs, New York Mets) and Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In 1995, he managed the Orioles to a 71-73 record, working with three future Hall of Famers: Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Mussina, and Harold Baines. Lured out of retirement by the Mets in 2009, Regan spent seven years as pitching coach for Class A affiliate St. Lucie before becoming minor league assistant pitching coordinator. He helped develop stars like Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, Steven Matz, Paul Sewald, and Noah Syndergaard.

In 2019, at age 82, he was promoted to interim major league pitching coach for the Mets. After serving three more years as senior advisor of pitching development, he sued the Mets and then-general manager Brodie Van Wagenen for age discrimination and wrongful termination. The Mets hired Jeremy Hefner, then 33, as pitching coach in 2020.

Regan had four children with his first wife, Carol, who died in 2004. He met his second wife, Lissette, while coaching in Venezuela. He had 18 grandchildren. Blit said Regan's life was dedicated to the game and his family, noting his significant impact in Venezuela.