Phillies manager Thomson and GM Mattingly to appear at caravan

Phillies manager Rob Thomson and Phillies vice president/general manager Preston Mattingly will appear at the Phillies Winter Caravan hosted by IronPigs Charities on Thursday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m. The event takes place at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem and is billed as an opportunity for local fans, volunteers, and community partners to connect with the organization’s leadership.

The caravan will honor long-time local baseball figure Lee Butz and will include the announcement of the 2026 class of Community Grants. Proceeds from the evening benefit IronPigs Charities, which the organization uses to fund youth baseball and softball programs as well as community grants across the Lehigh Valley. That makes the caravan more than just a meet-and-greet; it’s a fundraising and community-support moment that directly funnels resources to local fields, clinics, and neighborhood programs.

Event organizers provided ticket and purchase information and offered media availability contact details as part of the announcement. Background notes on Thomson and Mattingly were also included, giving context for their appearances and what fans can expect during the program. For local reporters and broadcasters, the caravan will be a workable access point to team leadership and an occasion to spotlight the grant recipients who will benefit from the season’s fundraising.

For fans who follow Triple-A action and the broader Phillies organization, this is a rare midwinter chance to hear from the club’s decision makers and to support grassroots baseball. The timing and location make it convenient for families across the Lehigh Valley to attend, and the spotlight on community grants means the night will have immediate, tangible local impact beyond the usual autograph and photo lines.

Our two cents? Treat this as both a community night out and a one-stop way to invest in local ball. Bring a kid, bring a camera, and plan to arrive early so you don’t miss the grant announcements and the honor for Lee Butz. Support at events like these keeps fields playable and programs running, and that’s what local baseball needs heading into the spring.