Philly Leader

Phillies manager Rob Thomson has extended his contract through the 2026 season, as announced by Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski. Thomson expressed his commitment to the team, stating, "This is the only place I want to be," and added that it would be his "last stop."

Thomson took over managerial duties from Joe Girardi in June 2022. Since then, he has led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances. "There’s very few clubs in baseball that have made the playoffs three years in a row," Dombrowski noted.

The entire coaching staff will return for the 2025 season. Despite fan frustration after an early postseason exit, Dombrowski emphasized collective responsibility: “It’s hard to put that on their backs in this case.”

Attention has been directed at hitting coach Kevin Long due to offensive struggles during the NL Division Series against the Mets. The Phillies finished fifth in runs and OPS this season but struggled offensively against New York. Thomson defended Long, highlighting his reputation among peers: “If you go around baseball and you talk to every baseball person... He’s going to be No. 1 on a lot of lists.”

Looking ahead, while some roster changes are expected, Thomson believes in the current group: “I think we ran into the hottest team in baseball,” referring to their series against the Mets. He remains confident in their potential for success.