Phillies promote Rob Thomson, sign contract through 2024 season

The Phillies have officially named Rob Thomson as their manager.

After Rob Thomson led the Philadelphia Phillies to a 65-46 regular season record, their first postseason berth since 2011, and their first postseason series win since 2010, the organization is officially removing the “interim” tag from the Canada native’s title.

The Phillies have signed Thomson as manager to a two-year contract through the 2024 season, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski announced on Monday.

Thomson joined the Phillies after the 2017 season as bench coach, after spending nearly three decades with the New York Yankees. The 59-year-old replaced his longtime Yankees and Phillies colleague — Joe Girardi — in early June after the team got out to a disappointing 22-29 start.

Now officially the 56th manager in Phillies franchise history, Thomson notably became just the fourth manager in Major League Baseball history to take over a team seven or more games under .500 and lead them to a postseason berth.

This season, the 2019 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee became the first Canadian-born manager to ever manage a game in his home country, as well as manage in the postseason. Thomson said he is “honored and humbled” to continue as Phillies manager, adding:

"“I could not be prouder of the group of players, coaches and staff that have made this all possible. This is a great group, one that has shown resiliency and overcome adversity all season to get us where we are today. I am honored and humbled to continue as manager of this club.”"

Thomson’s promotion and extension through 2024 — amid a postseason run that is bringing back hope last seen more than 10 years ago — is beyond well-deserved and arguably overdue. One would be hard-pressed to find someone within the organization, or game overall, to have a bad thing to say about “Topper.”

Thomson received his nickname from then-Yankees manager Joe Torre, who was in awe of when he showed up at the ballpark every day, as early as 4:30 in the morning. With a work ethic reminiscent of the late Roy Halladay’s, Thomson is now at the helm of a Phillies team who is just three wins away from its first NLCS appearance since Doc’s 2010 Cy Young Award-winning season.