Phillies players to watch. Photo by Adobe Stock / HTGanzo
The 2023 baseball season has officially begun, and Main Liners will want to keep an eye on these Phillies players this year.
The Phillies return home to Citizens Bank Park for their home opener this week, which we’re hoping wakes them up after a rocky start to the season. The National League champions got swept by the Texas Rangers in their first series, but the early season woes are nothing to worry about. With some big names returning and a few new faces on the roster, here are the Phillies players to watch this year.
Alec Bohm
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When Bohm first came to Philadelphia last year, he didn’t quite get along with the fans right away, after a nasty comment about how much he hates the city. But the natural hitter was able to redeem himself, and fans are looking forward to seeing what he does in his second year with the team. Bohm finished the 2022 season with 13 homers and 72 RBIs across 152 games. His 10 sacrifice flies led the MLB, and we’ll be looking for his defense to improve this year to make him a true standout on the team.
Trea Turner
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Turner is the new kid in town, coming to the Phillies over the offseason from the Dodgers. Last year, he hit 21 home runs and was responsible for 77 RBIs, with a batting average of .298. A smart player with base running skill, he led the National League in steals during the 2021 season, with 32 overall. The new shortstop could be the missing piece in the lineup and will hopefully help the Phils return to the playoffs.
Kyle Schwarber
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With Bryce Harper expected to be out for the first half of the season, Schwarber will hopefully fill this hole in the hearts of the fans. Aaron Judge’s record-setting 62 home runs on the American League side overshadowed the fact the Schwarber had a remarkable offensive season himself, leading the National League with 46 homers, or “Schwarbombs” as fans affectionately refer to them. He’s set to be a driving force in the lineup this year.
Taijuan Walker
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Coming from our northern rival in Queens, Walker put a lot of off-season effort into improving his efficiency. He performed well for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and his diverse arsenal could make him a valuable piece of the starting rotation. And the newly instituted pitch clock should be no problem for him. “I’ve seen him strike a guy out in 23 seconds,” pitching coach Caleb Cotham told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Nick Castellanos
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Castellanos left much to be desired last year, coming to the team as a free agent. But don’t forget that he has a strong offensive history and was a Silver Slugger Award winner two years ago. Fans are looking for huge improvements this year, hoping to see the production they know he’s capable of.
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