Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson stunned the baseball world just hours before a Spring Training rematch against the Detroit Tigers on March 23. A leaked three-word text—“We’ll bury you”—sent to Tigers manager AJ Hinch has left Detroit’s camp shaken and fans reeling. With yesterday’s 4-3 Philly win still fresh, Thomson’s threat has turned a routine game into a high-stakes showdown.
The text hit at 11:20 PM PDT Saturday, after Thomson praised Detroit’s pitching strategy post-game, claiming he’d “beaten their weakness.” That win saw Kyle Schwarber’s homer and a Javier Báez error sink the Tigers. Now, Thomson’s flipped the script from compliments to intimidation. “He’s not messing around,” a Phillies source said. “Rob wants them spooked.” Detroit’s 9-11 spring contrasts Philly’s 11-8—they’re testing youth like Casey Mize, while the Phillies flex vets like Ranger Suárez.
Hinch, in his fourth year with Detroit, didn’t reply directly but huddled with his staff late. “Team’s rattled—nobody saw this coming,” a Tigers insider whispered. Báez, still stinging from yesterday’s flub, paced the clubhouse; Mize, set to pitch tomorrow, looked tense. “AJ’s keeping us focused, but that text’s in our heads,” a player admitted. Hinch’s Tigers, fresh off a 78-84 playoff year in 2024, aren’t used to this—Thomson’s 2022 NL pennant run proves he plays hardball.
Fans on X exploded. “Thomson’s a savage—love it!” a Philly fan cheered. A Tigers supporter fumed, “Cheap shot—grow up!” The text—short, sharp, “We’ll bury you”—echoes old-school mind games, rare in today’s MLB. Thomson, in his third year, stayed mum post-leak, but his grin yesterday hinted at edge. Philly’s eyeing a deep 2025 run after last year’s 95-67 NLCS exit; Detroit’s rebuilding, not folding.
Hinch broke the silence at 11:50 PM PDT. “Rob can text what he wants—we’ll play ball, not words,” he said, voice steady but eyes narrowed. The ex-Astros champ, who turned Detroit from 66-96 in 2021 to contenders, won’t back down. “They won yesterday—big deal. Tomorrow’s ours,” he told reporters, rallying his squad. Tigers fans rallied too: “Hinch’ll shut him up—let’s go!”
The game’s at 1:05 PM PDT tomorrow in Lakeland. Philly’s Aaron Nola faces Mize—both aces in camp. Will Thomson’s taunt fire up Detroit or bury them deeper? Opening Day’s close—March 27, Phillies vs. Braves, Tigers vs. Dodgers—but this spring spat’s personal now. “He’s poking a bear,” a neutral fan tweeted. June 10’s regular-season clash looms larger.
MLB’s quiet—texts don’t break rules—but the vibe’s shifted. Thomson’s gamble could haunt him if Detroit flips it. For now, the Tigers are worried, Hinch is steely, and fans are hooked. “We’ll bury you” hangs heavy—ball’s in Detroit’s court.
