Phillies’ Don Mattingly Revisits ‘Abandoned’ Rob Thomson Outfield Change

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 09: Interim Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks to the media prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Philadelphia Phillies earned a shutout victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, winning their fourth consecutive series since a major change at the helm.

With their season spiraling out of control, the Phillies replaced long-time manager Rob Thomson with bench coach Don Mattingly and the team instantly turned things around in the standings.

“Suddenly, the starting pitching came in from the cold, the bats warmed and the defense went from lousy to pretty good,” NBC Philadelphia’s Jim Salibsury wrote. “And when the day ended Sunday, the Phillies had their 10th win in 13 games under Mattingly. They go into Monday’s planned (non-rainout) off day with a 19-22 record — not great, but not comatose, either — and lots and lots of season remaining.”

ForbesYankees’ 25-Year-Old Outfield Prospect Leaves MLB Shortly After CutBy Peter Chawaga

Philadelphia Phillies Manager Don Mattingly Makes Outfield Change After Replacing Rob Thomson

Mattingly and Thomson appear to have similar demeanors and the former New York Yankees’ first baseman said that he didn’t expect to change much as the interim manager, but to offer a different voice. And, evidently, that has been enough to power at least a temporary turnaround, though Mattingly has made some more practical changes as well.

Most notably, he gave struggling third baseman Alec Bohm two off days as an opportunity to reset an Bohm returned to the batting order with a vengeance. And he seems to be more focused on finding opportunities for Brandon Marsh as well.

But perhaps the biggest tactical diversion by the team’s new manager was seen on Friday when he placed utility man Edmuno Sosa in left field to start the game.

“The Phillies are reviving the left field experiment with Edmundo Sosa,” Scott Lauber noted for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Sosa started at third base again with Bohm on the bench. But he also took fly balls in left field for the first time since early last season when the Phillies aborted a brief tryout for Sosa in the outfield after a fly ball fell between him and center fielder Johan Rojas.”

ForbesBlue Jays Keeping Door Open For Addison Barger Injury ReplacementBy Peter Chawaga

Philadelphia Phillies’ Don Mattingly Response To Rob Thomson’s ‘Abandoned’ Experiment

Addressing that outfield change, Mattingly explained that he wanted to revisit the experiment after Thomson abandoned it rather quickly.

“I want as much versatility within our lineup,” Mattingly explained, per Lauber. “He’s a good athlete. It sounded like it was one play the last time he played out there that went bad, and then we abandoned it. For me, I’m putting him out there, letting him get some work out there.”

After the team released Nick Castellanos, lost Rojas to a performance-enhancing drug suspension and then demoted Otto Kemp shortly after Opening Day, the outfield could be a key place to work in Sosa, who otherwise has to compete with everyday players for a spot in the infield.

In any case, it seems Mattingly is willing to revisit changes that Thomson backed away from as he looks to bring the Phillies back from the brink of disaster.