Phillies Dismiss Rob Thomson After Disastrous Start, Name Don Mattingly Interim Manager
The Philadelphia Phillies have made a major organizational change after a disastrous start to the season, firing manager Rob Thomson following the club’s disappointing 9-19 opening stretch.
Multiple reports confirmed the move, which comes with Philadelphia tied alongside the New York Mets for the worst record in Major League Baseball. In response, the Phillies have appointed veteran baseball figure Don Mattingly as the team’s interim manager as they attempt to reverse their season.
The decision marks a dramatic end to Thomson’s tenure in Philadelphia after what had initially been a highly successful run.
Thomson, 62, first took over the Phillies during the 2022 season when the organization fired former manager Joe Girardi after a poor start. At the time, Thomson was promoted from bench coach to interim manager 51 games into the campaign and immediately helped transform the team’s season.
Under Thomson’s leadership, the 2022 Phillies posted a strong 65-46 record the rest of the way and made a surprising run to the World Series. Philadelphia ultimately fell to the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic, but Thomson’s turnaround of the club earned widespread praise and solidified his position as the full-time manager moving forward.
Prior to joining the Phillies, Thomson had built a long and respected career in professional baseball. He spent nearly three decades in the New York Yankees organization from 1990 through 2017, serving in a variety of roles that included minor league manager and major league coach. He later joined Philadelphia as bench coach under Gabe Kapler following the 2017 season and remained with the organization even after Kapler’s departure.
After taking over the Phillies in 2022, Thomson helped keep the franchise among the National League’s contenders for several seasons. Philadelphia won 90 games in 2023, followed by 95 wins in 2024 and 96 victories in 2025, establishing itself as one of baseball’s most consistent regular-season teams.
However, postseason shortcomings and rising expectations gradually increased the pressure on Thomson.
The Phillies entered the 2023 postseason viewed as a legitimate championship contender but were eliminated by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Championship Series. Over the next two seasons, Philadelphia suffered back-to-back exits in the National League Division Series, failing to capitalize on talented rosters built to compete for titles.
As a result, Thomson entered the 2026 season with mounting pressure to deliver deeper postseason success—or at minimum keep the team competitive.
Instead, the Phillies stumbled badly out of the gate.
Their 9-19 start proved too much for the front office to ignore, prompting ownership and baseball operations leadership to make a swift managerial change in hopes of salvaging the season before it slips away entirely.
Now, Mattingly takes over on an interim basis. The former Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins manager brings significant experience and could provide a stabilizing veteran presence as Philadelphia looks to regroup.
Mattingly had reportedly expressed limited interest in managing again in recent years, but the Phillies clearly believe his experience makes him the right short-term leader for the club.
Thomson’s dismissal also fuels speculation about Philadelphia’s long-term plans. One name already being linked to the opening is former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was fired just days ago after Boston’s own poor start.
Cora’s connection to Phillies president Dave Dombrowski only adds intrigue, as Dombrowski originally hired Cora during his tenure leading Boston’s baseball operations department.
Whether Mattingly remains beyond the season or Philadelphia pursues another high-profile manager later remains to be seen.
For now, the Phillies are hoping a leadership change can spark an immediate turnaround—and keep their playoff hopes alive before the season gets any further away.
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