The Phillies have shown their unwavering trust in manager Rob Thomson and his coaching staff, as Dave Dombrowski announced that Thomson has been signed through the 2026 season and his entire staff will be returning in 2025. Thomson’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, putting him in a precarious position for next year. The decision to extend him and keep the coaching staff intact comes after evaluation meetings that apparently left the top decision makers satisfied with the team’s performance.
Thomson took over as manager during the 2022 season, replacing Joe Girardi. Despite lacking experience as a big league manager, Thomson had been a coach in the major and minor leagues for many years. His record with the Phillies includes two Wild Card berths, an NL East division title, and an NL pennant, with a winning record of 250-185. The team has also performed well in the playoffs under his leadership, going 20-14.
Although the Phillies’ postseason run this year fell short of expectations, the organization sees no reason for changes in leadership. Thomson’s consecutive one-year extensions suggest the team’s desire to avoid having a lame duck manager, while also showing a reluctance to commit long-term. Surprisingly, the entire coaching staff will return for the upcoming season, despite the common practice of making changes after a disappointing finish. The team’s strong regular season performance and improvements in various aspects of the game likely influenced this decision.
The coaching staff includes pitching coach Caleb Cotham, hitting coach Kevin Long, and several others who have been with the team since before Thomson’s tenure. Despite the opportunity to assemble his own coaching team, Thomson appears content with the staff he inherited.
