The Philadelphia Phillies have made a major change after a 9-19 start to the 2026 season. The team has fired manager Rob Thomson while naming Don Mattingly interim manager.
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Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said last Tuesday that he was not considering a managerial change, but he added the words "at this point." One week later, the team parted ways with Thomson.
The now-former manager took over the team in 2022. He led the Phillies to a 65-46 record and locked up a spot in the postseason. The team made it to the World Series but ultimately lost to the Astros.
Thomson led the team to at least 90 wins in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The team made the postseason each year but never returned to the World Series. The Phillies then kicked off 2026 by going 9-19, which included a 10-game losing streak.
These struggles sealed Thomson's fate. He holds the franchise record for winning percentage (.568), but this is not enough to keep him in the building.
The Phillies have relieved Rob Thomson of his duties as manager. pic.twitter.com/Jp523BrbV5
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 28, 2026
Mattingly, a nine-time Golden Glove winner, spent his entire 14-year playing career with the New York Yankees. He won MVP one time, earned All-Star honors six times and won the 1984 AL Batting Title.
Mattingly has previous experience as a manager, which he earned long after his playing career ended. He guided the Los Angeles Dodgers between 2011-2015 and then the Miami Marlins between 2016-2022.
The former MLB star compiled a win-loss record of 446-363 with the Dodgers and a win-loss record of 443-587 with the Marlins. He won Manager of the Year in 2020 after guiding the Marlins to an NL Wild Card Series win over the Cubs. The team's postseason ended in the NL Division Series.
With Mattingly taking over as interim manager, the team will alter its coaching lineup. Dusty Wathan will take over as bench coach and Triple-A Lehigh Valley manager Anthony Contreras will become the third-base coach.
