Two Games into Spring Training, Rob Thomson Puts the Pressure On
Feb 25, 2025; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford (80) celebrates with shortstop Edmundo Sosa (33) after scoring a run against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
After the first weekend of Phillies baseball in 2026, Rob Thomson sent a clear message: the pressure is on, and it applies to everybody.
After a disappointing end to the 2025 season, where the Phillies failed to meet expectations yet again when it mattered most, the Phillies’ management made it clear that things were changing. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made it blatantly clear that the Phillies would not enter 2026 with the same team. One could argue about the extent to which Dombrowski kept his word, but so far, the Phillies have approached Spring Training differently this year than in the past, so hopefully, this gives the new squad the surge they need for long-term success.
In 2025, there were very few open roster spots coming into Spring Training, and that was reflected by the team’s play. Anticipated stars struggled, and the few guys who were competing for spots stepped up. In fact, Max Kepler, Edmundo Sosa, and Johan Rojas led the Phillies in RBI in last year’s Spring Training, and those were the three competing for the remaining major-league bench spots.
On Saturday’s Spring Training opener, Justin Crawford and Adolis Garcia, both of whom are expected to be in the Opening Day lineup, drew the start in Dunedin against the Blue Jays. Notable bench bats Otto Kemp, Sosa, and Rafael Marchan also made their way into that first lineup of the spring, which, in years past, has featured names that even the most dedicated fans need to Google. On Sunday, Thomson penciled the seven starters who did not play Saturday — in addition to Rojas and former Marlins’ starting outfielder Bryan De La Cruz — into the starting lineup.
Despite the 0-2 start to the season, there were certainly some noticeable positive trends. So far, Thomson has given the Phillies’ offseason acquisitions ample opportunities. Utilizing 17 pitchers in 17 innings, brand new arms like Trevor Richards, Zach Pop, Kyle Backhus, Genesis Cabrera, and Jonathan Hernandez have all toed the rubber. And although Hernandez struggled, the other four struck out a combined five batters in four innings of work, allowing just two hits. It’s well-known that the Phillies need to fill the void left by southpaw Matt Strahm, so the Phillies’ front office will certainly be looking for a late-inning reliever from the left side, and there’s no better time to test the waters during the first weekend of the spring.
Clearly, Thomson does not make these decisions on a whim, for fun, or by flipping a coin. Forced to fill more roles than ever before during his tenure as Phillies manager, Thomson’s moves are carefully calculated. He is approaching the spring with a “win-now” mentality, forcing the Phillies’ veterans to come out of the gate competing.
Nonetheless, the veterans alone likely will not carry the entire load. Top prospects Bryan Rincon, Aroon Escobar, and 2024 first-round draft pick Dante Nori all made appearances in each of the first two games. And believe it or not, these guys have as much pressure on them as the vets. As the next generation of Phillies prospects, including Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller, lie on the brink of the big leagues, these guys are not too far behind. Sunday afternoon, Thomson confirmed that Miller has been out with a sore back. As of now, Miller’s injury does not worry the Phillies long-term, but being a guy on the Phillies’ radar for a possible MLB debut in early 2026, this announcement has opened some eyes.
Despite having only 139 career games in the minors, Nori will be 22 by the time Red October begins. It may only take a trade here and an injury there for someone like Nori to become a serious contender for a mid-season call-up.
Some people will tell you that Spring Training doesn’t matter, but that obviously is not the case. Unlike in the regular season, each team has a mission tailored to the needs to meet their goal for the season, making February and March baseball some of the most fascinating games to watch. Think of Spring Training like the hors d’oeuvre for the rest of the season: it may not make or break your meal right away, but it surely can enhance it with the right ingredients, or in this case, with the right strategy.
Colin Daly
Colin is an editor and the lead Phillies writer for Philly Sports Reports. He has been covering sports since 2020 and has been with PSR since the summer of 2021. As a lifelong Philly fan, he has a strong passion for the core four and does not miss a game. Colin is a co-host of the Bell Ringers podcast.
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