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Phillies suddenly relevant in National League race thanks to some nepotism
TL;DR
The Philadelphia Phillies, initially struggling in the 2026 MLB season, fired manager Rob Thomson and replaced him with Don Mattingly, sparking renewed hope in their National League race.
Key points
- Phillies had high expectations for the 2026 MLB season
- Team struggled significantly in April
- Rob Thomson was fired as manager
- Don Mattingly was appointed as the new manager
Mentioned in this story
Rob ThomsonDon Mattingly
Philadelphia PhilliesMLB
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2026 MLB season with massive expectations. Instead, they spent most of April looking completely lost. A roster built to contend in the National League stumbled out of the gate and finished the month as one of the most disappointing teams in baseball. Something had to change. And the Phillies made a bold one.
MORE: MLB power rankings: 30 teams ranked worst to first on May 7th, 2026
The Move That Changed Everything
Near the end of April, Philadelphia fired manager Rob Thomson and replaced him with someone already sitting in the dugout: Don Mattingly.
On paper, the hire made sense. Mattingly has extensive MLB managerial experience with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins, along with coaching stops with the New York Yankees, Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays. The surprising part wasnât that Mattingly got the job. It was how he got it.
Keeping It in the Family
Mattinglyâs son happens to be the Philliesâ general manager. Thatâs where the nepotism conversation begins. Philadelphia could have conducted an outside search, promoted another coach internally, or just taken a completely different direction.
Instead, the GM hired his father. Normally, that kind of move would be met with skepticism across baseball. But right now? Itâs hard to argue with the results.
Q&A
Why did the Philadelphia Phillies fire manager Rob Thomson?
The Phillies fired Rob Thomson due to a disappointing start to the 2026 MLB season, as they were one of the most underperforming teams in baseball.
Who replaced Rob Thomson as the Phillies' manager?
Don Mattingly, who was already part of the coaching staff, was appointed as the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
What impact did Don Mattingly's hiring have on the Phillies' season?
Don Mattingly's hiring aimed to revitalize the team's performance in the National League race after a lackluster start to the season.
