Juan Samuel has circled back home with the Phillies. 

Signed by the Phils as a 19-year-old out of the Dominican Republic 43 years ago, “Sammy," now 62, returned home this June when he joined the organization as a special assistant to player development and international scouting. In this role, he will work with Minor League players at the Phillies’ training complexes in both the Dominican Republic and Clearwater, Fla., in addition to helping the club identify talent in the international scouting market.

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“Juan is an outstanding person, professional and a Phillies legend,” said Phillies assistant general manager Jorge Velandia. “We are going to use his expertise in all facets of the game, and he will be a tremendous resource, not only for our younger players, but also for our player development staff.”

The first seven seasons of a 16-year Major League career were with the Phillies (1983-89). Over the remainder of his playing career, Samuel also played for the Mets (1989), Dodgers (1990-92), Royals (1992; '95), Reds (1993), Tigers (1994-95) and Blue Jays (1996-98).

His last game (Sept. 26, 1998): He was a pinch-runner for the Blue Jays in the 13th inning vs. the Tigers. He was sacrificed over to second base, stole third and scored the winning run on a hit in a 5-4 win.

Following his playing career, Samuel worked as a coach in Major and Minor League ranks for the Tigers, Mets, Reds, Orioles and Phillies organizations. He was named interim manager of the Orioles in the 2010 season before becoming a part of the Phillies' Major League staff from 2011-17. A year ago, he served as a Minor League hitting instructor in the Reds organization.

Phillies Nuggets

Made his Major League debut on Aug. 24, 1983. First big league hit was a third-inning triple that day in San Francisco. He scored when Giants center fielder Chili Davis made an error as he tried to field the ball. ... Member of the pennant-winning team that year. ... All-Star second baseman (1984/1987); Silver Slugger Award (1987). ... First player in NL history to record double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in each of his first four Major League seasons. ... Led NL in triples (1984, 1987). ... Holds club rookie records (set in 1984) for at-bats (701), triples (19) and stolen bases (72); stolen-base total is an overall club record. ... Selected as second baseman on the All-Vet Team (2003). ... Wall of Fame inductee (2008). ... Over 852 games with the club, he hit .263 with 176 doubles, 71 triples, 100 home runs, 413 RBIs, 249 stolen bases and 523 runs scored.

The Beginning

Signed by the Phillies’ Kiki Acevedo and Ruben Amaro Sr. on April 29, 1980. Bonus was $2,500. His pro debut came that summer with the Bend (Ore.) Phillies in the Northwest League. Bend was some 5,700 miles from his home.

“Went to Clearwater, but many of us actually trained in Sarasota at a complex shared by the Braves and Astros. I was a second baseman, but they kept working me out in right field. I wondered if they confused me with someone else. I remember sitting on the bench and crying. P.J. [Carey, the Phillies' Minor League manager), came up to me and asked what was wrong. Told him I wanted a plane ticket so I could go home. He talked me out of it. He wound up as my manager in Bend. We became close friends. He came to San Francisco when I played my first game in the Majors.

“Later, we joined extended spring training at Carpenter Complex. I wasn’t playing much and figured I would be sent back to the Dominican. I remember hitting a grand slam in a game and that sort of changed things.

“Walked in the complex clubhouse one morning and my name was on the list of players going to Helena. I was really surprised. The Phillies held a minicamp there that included players they drafted. Darren [Daulton] was one I remember. He was assigned to Helena, and I was sent to Bend.

“We stayed in a hotel. Four of us from the island hung together: Sergio Isambert, Alfredo Reynolds and Juan Acevedo, who was Nino Espinosa’s brother. One day, we noticed the American teammates checking out of the hotel. One told me the club was only paying for a hotel room for one week. My buddies and I got a newspaper, checked out apartments and found one. My mother was from St. Thomas, so I knew some English. I was the interpreter (laughing).

“Out of the four of us, I was the only one to make it. Had a lot of fun that summer. Saw my first snow in Walla Walla. Lot of time riding buses. Longest trip was Victoria, Canada. We stopped a game on getaway day once in the sixth inning. The bus had to get to the Canadian border by a certain time to catch the last ferry.”

Samuel wound up playing 69 games and hitting .282. He showed the power (11 doubles, 17 home runs) and speed (26 steals) that would be his trademark in the Majors. He walked 17 times and struck out 87 times. He later was quoted, "You don't walk off the Island. You hit."