The Philadelphia Phillies have extended manager Rob Thomson’s contract through the 2026 season, ensuring he remains with the team for an additional year. This extension comes on the heels of a successful 2024 season, in which the Phillies secured their first National League East title since 2011, finishing with an impressive 95-67 record. Since taking over as manager in 2022, Thomson has led the Phillies to three consecutive playoff appearances, including a 2022 World Series run and two trips to the National League Championship Series.
Phillies’ President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, emphasized the importance of maintaining leadership stability, praising Thomson’s influence on the team’s progress. Dombrowski also confirmed that the full coaching staff will return for the next season, highlighting Thomson’s strong connection with both players and coaching colleagues. Known for his measured approach, Thomson commented that he appreciates the additional year but is solely focused on achieving success with the Phillies.
Despite postseason struggles in 2023 and 2024, Thomson’s winning percentage of .575 remains the best in franchise history. His leadership has significantly contributed to the team’s revitalization, setting a solid foundation as the Phillies strive to further improve their roster for future playoff ambitions【16†source】【17†source】【18†source】.
Whatever the nickname, the Philadelphia Phillies can call Rob Thomson their manager for at least two more seasons.
The Phillies signed Thomson to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season after he led the team to two straight trips to the NL Championship Series.
He worked most of 2022 as an interim manager. Now, Thomson won’t have to enter 2024 as a lame-duck one.
“It’s good to know that you’ve got that extra year,” Thomson said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings, “but if I didn’t get it, it probably wouldn’t have bothered me.”
The 60-year-old Thomson has a 155-118 record since the veteran bench coach replaced Joe Girardi as Phillies manager on June 3, 2022. Thomson led the Phillies to the 2022 World Series, where they lost in six games to the Houston Astros. The Phillies returned to the NLCS this season but blew series leads of 2-0 and 3-2 with Games 6 and 7 at home against Arizona.
Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos went 5 for 53 (.094) with 11 walks, 22 strikeouts and two RBIs in Philadelphia’s four NLCS losses. Against six Arizona pitchers in Game 7, the four went 1 for 15 with five strikeouts and no RBIs.
Thomson led the Phillies to a 90-72 record in 2023 and their first 90-win season since 2011. This past October he became only the third manager in MLB history to win 18 of his first 25 postseason games, joining Hall of Famers Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel.
Thomson has been with the club since the 2018 season when he was first hired as bench coach under former manager Gabe Kapler.
