Phillies Manager Rob Thomson Stands Firm Amid Offensive Woes, Voices Full Support for Hitting Coach

PHILADELPHIA — June 13, 2025 — As the Philadelphia Phillies navigate one of their toughest stretches of the 2025 season, with bats going quiet and fan frustration rising, manager Rob Thomson is not backing down. Instead, he’s doubling down—publicly affirming his trust in hitting coach Kevin Long and urging fans and media alike to keep the faith.

The Phillies, once riding high atop the NL East standings, have hit a troubling offensive skid in recent weeks. Key players like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner have all seen dips in production. A team known for its power-hitting prowess has suddenly found itself scraping for runs, and the recent cold spell has sparked a flurry of speculation regarding the coaching staff—particularly Long.

Kevin’s one of the best hitting minds in baseball,” Thomson said during his pregame press conference. “This slump doesn’t fall on one man. The responsibility is shared, and I have full confidence in Kevin to help these guys turn things around.”

While some fans and analysts have started calling for a shake-up, possibly even a mid-season change in the hitting department, Thomson has been adamant that now is not the time to panic. He stressed the importance of continuity, especially in a sport that thrives on rhythm and trust.

When you’re in a rough patch, the worst thing you can do is create chaos,” Thomson said. “We’ve got proven hitters here. They’re putting in the work, and they’re being coached by someone who’s helped them succeed in the past.”

Indeed, Kevin Long’s track record backs up Thomson’s defense. Since joining the Phillies in 2022, Long has helped elevate several players to career-best seasons. Under his guidance, the team has ranked among the league’s top offensive units in runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging. And while the current numbers don’t reflect that same dominance, Thomson believes the fundamentals haven’t disappeared—they’re just buried under a temporary funk.

Over the last 15 games, the Phillies have struggled mightily at the plate, ranking near the bottom of the league in runs per game and batting average. Sluggers who once delivered clutch hits have gone cold, and the team’s strikeout rate has ticked upward.

But it’s not just one or two players—it’s nearly the entire lineup. Harper has one home run in his last 12 games, Schwarber is hitting below .200 during the stretch, and even the always-reliable J.T. Realmuto has failed to make a significant impact.

Despite the slump, the Phillies remain within striking distance in the playoff race. Their pitching staff, led by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, has kept games close, allowing the team to remain competitive even when the offense sputters.

Players have echoed Thomson’s message of unity and support. Speaking to reporters, Bryce Harper voiced appreciation for Long’s coaching style and downplayed the notion that the slump is coaching-related.

Sometimes you’re just pressing too much,” Turner said. “It snowballs. But we’ve been through this before. We trust each other and we trust Kevin. He’s helped all of us improve in different ways.”

For Thomson, this moment is about maintaining composure—something he’s been praised for since taking over the managerial role. He reiterated that slumps are inevitable during the marathon of a 162-game season and that leadership is measured by stability, not rash decisions.

As the Phillies prepare to face divisional rivals in a critical upcoming stretch, all eyes will be on the offense. But if Rob Thomson has his way, any turnaround won’t be sparked by firings or finger-pointing—it will come from within, from a team he believes still has the talent and the coaching to compete for a championship.