The storylines for this spring training feel as endless as this winter has been, and with a growing sense that this could be the final year in the World Series window for this beleaguered Phillies core, fans are eager to see if an infusion of youth, a new voice in the dugout, and ditching distractions will be enough to push the team to the pinnacle after a disappointing offseason that left the roster unimproved, maybe even weakened.
As full-squad workouts get underway at Baycare Ballpark, we’ll be keeping an eye on prospect potential, pitching depth, pressure on the premier players, protection for the top of the lineup, and the outfield platoon.
They say hope springs eternal, and generally spring training does come with some renewed hope for a new season where anything can happen, but this year for the Phillies a lot will need to go right in order to make up for an offseason gone wrong.
Familiar Faces, Different Focus
Can a Team With the Same Soul Have a New Story?
For a lineup that remains largely unchanged from last season, an awful lot looks different for the Philadelphia Phillies this spring.
Of course the more obvious are the subtractions made in the offseason, most notably star left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez and the short-tenured but beloved outfielder Harrison Bader, who were both lost to free agency. The Phillies also traded away Matt Strahm who was shipped off to the Kansas City Royals, ostensibly to shave some money off the payroll, but some believe he ruffled some front office feathers when he publicly expressed frustration with the coaching staff’s approach to the bullpen’s postseason preparation.
And of course, the Nick Castellanos saga left the Phillies holding the $20 million dollar bag for a player now at spring training with the San Diego Padres, who scooped Nick up for the league minimum after the Phillies released him. Adolis Garcia will take over in right field– the one notable free agent addition to the lineup this offseason but with plenty to prove to the fanbase as he brings with him declining offensive numbers.
One other notable addition the Phillies made this offseason, was bringing on Don Mattingly as bench coach. Coming off a trip to the World Series, “Donnie Baseball” has big league playing and coaching experience, and maybe his fresh eyes in the dugout will help with some of the lineup issues following the Phillies into this season.
Despite some new faces and a very different feel to the team after an offseason that was somehow both uneventful and ripe with drama, the lineup is nearly identical. The elite right-handed bat that fans have been clamoring for and that the Phillies so desperately need is nowhere to be found after the Phillies missed out on Bo Bichette and decided to be “content” with the current lineup construction rather than go after another top free agent.
The Five Ps—What to Watch For As Clearwater Gets Cracking
So what will be the keys to the Phillies success this season? In keeping with the P worn with pride on the cap, we’ll be tracking these five Ps from Spring Training through the regular season: Prospects, Pitching, Pressure, Protection (for Bryce), and Platooning.
Prospects
Of course all eyes are on the Phillies’ top prospects this spring with outfielder Justin Crawford poised to make the Opening Day roster as the Phillies’ every day center fielder. Expectations are also high for top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who is expected to win a spot with ace Zack Wheeler not expected to be fully ready to start the season as he recovers from surgery. There are some who think the Phillies’ top overall prospect, shortstop Aidan Miller, could see time with the big club by midseason, and there is also buzz around outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones, Jr., but he will unfortunately see his Grapefruit League play delayed as he nurses knee soreness.
Pitching
Both the new-look bullpen and starting rotation come into spring training with a mix of uncertainty and positive outlook.
This will be the first full season with star closer Jhoan Duran, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, and the Phillies have added right-hander Brad Keller on a two-year deal who is expected to play a key role in high leverage situations as the “bridge to Duran” in the 7th or 8th innings. Tanner Banks is returning after a solid season, but while there are high hopes for other returning relievers Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering, there are also questions. Can Alvarado be successful without PEDs as he gets set to return from the suspension that cost him 80 regular games and the postseason? Can Kerkering find his footing after such a brutal ending to an already mediocre season?
The Phillies will also need to rely on their two aces coming back in top form. Will Zack Wheeler be the same after his surgery and can Cristopher Sanchez go the distance? Sanchez stepped up in a big way during Wheeler’s absence last season, but in doing so pitched a career high 202 regular season innings. Between his extra usage in the 2025 season and his upcoming participation in the World Baseball classic, there will be questions about his durability. Maybe both aces can rub Zack Wheeler’s rib for luck before games; it was recently reported that Wheeler kept the rib that was removed during his surgery and currently has it in a closet at home.
Will Jesús Luzardo, who showed flashes of brilliance in both the regular season and postseason last year, find consistency after some struggles attributed to tipping pitches saw him allow 20 runs in two games in early June. Can Aaron Nola bounce back from his worst season to date? Can Taijuan Walker continue to improve after a horrific 2024 season that had him fighting to stay relevant in 2025? And one of the biggest questions this spring—can Andrew Painter make it against big league hitters?
Pressure
Will Bryce Harper have an “elite” season while the drama with Phillies President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski continues to play out publicly? We certainly believe Harper will use the perceived disrespect as motivation to return to greatness, but of course his ability to do that will largely depend on whether or not he gets protection in the lineup this season.
Can Trea Turner continue to improve on defense after a strong 2025 campaign, and will he be able to sustain the high-level offensive numbers that won him the NL batting title?
Finally, fans will be eager to see if Kyle Schwarber can keep the ‘Schwarbombs’ flying after landing a huge contract.
The star power will need to be on full display this season, and if the team is going to get over the hump, it is going to need to extend into the postseason—a problem they have been unable to solve since their deepest playoff push in 2022 when they fell to the Astros in the World Series.
Protection and Platooning
The two most glaring issues that have plagued this team for consecutive years—the platoon in the outfield and the lack of protection for Bryce Harper in the lineup. The fact that neither were addressed this offseason has left fans dumbstruck. While an attempt was made to bring in Bo Bichette to address the much needed bat, it ultimately failed, and the front office made no attempt to pivot to other available options on the free agent market.
As their first Grapefruit League game approaches, Alec Bohm may still be the Phillies’ best option for batting cleanup, an exasperating reality for fans who have watched him fail to provide adequate protection for Bryce for the last several seasons.
Adolis Garcia’s name has also been mentioned in Clearwater as a possible option, and while Garcia has shown he can hit for power at times, he is better known for poor plate discipline, and as they did with previous outfield projects Whit Merrifield and Max Kepler, the Phillies would be pinning their hopes on a player having a bounceback season.
While the search for the four-hole hitter continues, so too does the search for stability in the outfield as the platoon in left field is set to continue. With Garcia taking over for Castellanos in right field, Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp will share duties in left field based on pitching matchups as the Phillies put an exceptional amount of faith in rookie Justin Crawford to have immediate success in center field.
From Spring Scrimmages to Serious Stakes: Final Thoughts
While it’s common for spring training to begin with some questions and areas of concern for any team, this year feels more dramatic for the Phillies.
The usual early optimism from fans feels diminished from years past. Negativity on social media seems to be at an all-time high as fans continue to lament the Phillies “Running it back” once again, and confidence in Dave Dombrowski appears to be gone completely.
But this team is now a band of brothers that has gone to war with each other year after year. Can the chip on the collective shoulder from everything they have had to endure bring them together enough to overcome all the noise and disappointment and finally bring the title home, or will being forced to run it back for a third year in a row run them right out of contention and into ruin and rebuilding?
The next five or so weeks in Florida will not be able to give us all the answers, but it may give us an early look at just how much the Phillies will need to overcome in order to have a shot at turning turmoil into triumph.
