Robert Thomson (born August 16, 1963, in Sarnia, Ontario) is the third base coach for the New York Yankees. He served as bench coach for the 2008 season after serving as Major League Field Coordinator for the organization.

Thomson was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 32nd round of the 1985 draft. He played catcher and third base in the Tigers' minor league system until 1988, when he became a minor league coach for the team. In 1990, Thomson joined the Yankees organization as a third base coach for the team's Class-A affiliate in Fort Lauderdale. He moved into the front office in 1998 as a Field Coordinator, and became Director of Player Development in 2000. Prior to the 2003 season, he was named Vice President of Minor League Development, and was named to the Major League coaching staff in November of the same year.

On September 27, 2006, Thomson took over as first base coach in place of Tony Peña, who learned before the game that his father had died. He filled in at the position for four games, as Peña returned in time for the season finale on October 1.

On April 4, 2008, Yankees manager Joe Girardi fell ill with a respiratory infection and designated Thomson to manage that night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.^[1] It was Thomson's first major league game as a manager; the Yankees lost 13–4.^[2] Thomson also managed the April 5 game due to Girardi's illness.^[3]

Thomson resides in Tampa, Florida with his wife Michelle and their daughters, Jacqueline and Christina.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Baseball Cube page on Rob Thomson
• New York Yankees official bio
• Yankees Notes, September 29, 2006