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Philalethia Phillies Star Played Integral Role in Changing Clubhouse Culture

One Philadelphia Phillies superstar played a large role in helping change the personality of the team's clubhouse for the better after his arrival last winter.

The Philadelphia Phillies had one of the closest clubhouses in all of Major League Baseball last season.

The players got along. They never pointed fingers when things didn’t go well. They were loose.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said that the clubhouse transformation started with the addition of Kyle Schwarber and continued with manager Rob Thomson taking over for a fired Joe Girardi.

“The personality of last year’s club developed starting in the season when we brought a person on like Kyle Schwarber,” Dombrowski told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie on a recent interview on 94 WIP. “That was really a focus and concentration for us – to change the culture, to change the leadership, to bring somebody in here who has won before, which was Kyle. It doesn’t happen immediately. Somebody like that doesn’t walk into your clubhouse and just change everything. Over the year, it changes, but then I think when Rob Thomson came on board, that was another key. When he really became in charge.

“He had a different relationship with the players. There’s not a right way or wrong way. He just had a different way of communicating with the players. They started taking more of an exerted effort themselves toward clubhouse presence. … When you get to the postseason, it's a whole other level. The camaraderie develops in the organization with the players in the postseason.”

Clubhouses need to be close in order to succeed. Already without an injured Bryce Harper to start the season, the Phillies are going to be without Rhys Hoskins and a torn ACL.

The team has already dealt with plenty of adversity heading into the season. A strong clubhouse will go a long way in helping stay focused through the marathon 162-game season with the goal of a deep postseason run and ultimately a World Series title. 

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