The Philadelphia Phillies are slated to open their 2023 slate in Arlington against the Texas Rangers on Thursday, March 30. Here’s our third projection of what Rob Thomson’s lineup — without the rehabbing Bryce Harper — will look like against Jacob deGrom and the Rangers.
No. 1: Trea Turner, Shortstop
Before leaving to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Turner consistently hit at the top of the order in Grapefruit League games. Both Andrew McCutchen and Kyle Schwarber hit leadoff home runs on Opening Day in their Phillies’ debuts, so Turner has some tough acts to follow.
No. 2: Kyle Schwarber, Left Field
On the March 5 Spring Training game in Dunedin, Schwarber followed up a leadoff single from Turner by hitting a 414-feet home run. Later that day, Thomson confirmed to Phillies Nation that he is indeed leaning towards Turner and Schwarber being the top two hitters in the lineup to open the regular season.
No. 3: J.T. Realmuto, Catcher
Realmuto re-established himself as the best catcher in baseball during the 2022 season, and is probably another All-Star season or two away from entering the Hall of Fame discussion. The only question is whether he’ll hold up, given that tremendous workload he’s had. Between the regular season and postseason in 2022, Realmuto spent a ton of time behind the plate, and he’ll pair up with Will Smith at catcher to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
No. 4: Rhys Hoskins, First Base
Hoskins is heading into a contract year, with an .846 OPS to show for parts of six Major League seasons. Whether it’s second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth, the soon-to-be 30-year-old fits at about any spot in the lineup.
No. 5: Nick Castellanos, Right Field
Castellanos will get the first crack at protecting the cleanup hitter, but his leash may be short if he doesn’t bounce back after a disastrous individual first season with the Phillies. If the version of Castellanos that led baseball in doubles between 2017 and 2021 re-emerges, it’s scary to think about how good this lineup could be, especially once Harper returns.
No. 6: Darick Hall, DH
We’ve bumped Hall up a spot in the lineup, because ultimately you aren’t going to have three consecutive lefties at the bottom of the order. As Phillies Nation‘s Destiny Lugardo noted, it’s not impossible that offseason acquisition Jake Cave gets a shot to be the DH in Harper’s absence, but mashing right-handed pitching last season during a key stretch and performing well so far in Grapefruit League play make Hall the favorite to be in the Opening Day lineup if the Phillies are indeed facing the right-handed deGrom.
No. 7: Alec Bohm, Third Base
Bohm added additional muscle in the offseason and has torn the cover off the ball so far in Spring Training. He’s never going to grade out well defensively at third base, but you’re starting to get the feeling he could emerge as one of the better hitters in the senior circuit in 2023. And if that’s the case, he won’t be hitting seventh very long.
No. 8: Bryson Stott, Second Base
Stott slashed just .188/.255/.307 in the first half of his rookie season, but showed great improvement after the All-Star Break, slashing .276/.331/.404. Additionally, he showed an ability to work the count and deliver clutch hits. And while the former first-round pick is a natural shortstop, Stott posted one defensive run saved and three outs above average in 372 innings at second base last season.
No. 9: Brandon Marsh, Center Field
During the 2022 run to the World Series, Thomson essentially had Marsh and Matt Vierling platoon in center field. Vierling is now a Detroit Tiger, and while any combination of Dalton Guthrie, Edmundo Sosa and Scott Kingery could get some right-handed at-bats in center field this season, the Phillies would be more comfortable if Marsh just emerges as a full-time option at the position. In parts of two Major League seasons, Marsh has a .732 OPS against right-handed pitching, but just a .519 mark against lefties.
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