Spring training is underway for the Philadelphia Phillies. Pitchers and catchers have reported to the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida, and full squad workouts are due to commence on Feb. 17. The organization will begin preparing for the beginning of the 2025 regular season with its first spring training game on Feb. 22 versus the Detroit Tigers.
Philadelphia has some competition between players to determine backup spots before the start of the regular season. Some players may unexpectedly make the club’s Opening Day roster. However, there could be developments that may impact the team during spring training that may have a negative impact.
Phillies cannot afford these 3 nightmare scenarios to start 2025 MLB season
Taijuan Walker ends up in the starting rotation
Taijuan Walker had a terrible 2024 season. He dealt with injuries and was not a good pitcher in the Phillies’ starting rotation. Manager Rob Thomson moved him out of the rotation to the bullpen and the right-hander did not appear for Philly in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Philadelphia’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, said last October that Walker would need to earn a spot in the rotation during spring training. However, the Phillies acquired starter Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins in December. He looks to be the fifth starter entering the regular season.
Top prospect Andrew Painter is on track to debut in the majors during the summer. The right-hander would be another starter for the Phillies to use in their rotation, giving the club six options should the rest of the starters remain healthy.
Walker has an uphill battle to be considered a reliable starting option for Philadelphia. Reliever/spot starter Joe Ross may have an edge over him to be considered for starts if one of their other starting pitchers goes on the IL early during the regular season.
It would not benefit the Phillies to sustain multiple injuries to their starting pitchers. They are projected to compete with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets for first in the NL East and Wild Card playoff spots and do not want to get off to a slow start in the regular season.
Max Kepler doesn’t look like a starting outfielder
The Phillies chose not to add one of the top free agents to a multi-year this offseason due to additional penalties they would suffer. One of the position groups lacking depth on the club entering spring training is the outfield. Philadelphia signed free agent Max Kepler to a one-year contract this offseason.
While the Phillies are counting on him to be their left fielder, he has not played there since 2015 in the minors. The Minnesota Twins used him at center and right field in his 10 seasons. There may be an adjustment for him to play left field again in spring training. However, the bigger issue for Kepler is maintaining his health. He battled knee injuries that limited him to 105 games in 2024.
Right fielder Nick Castellanos played in every regular season game in 2024 and may need an occasional day off this year. Center field is predicted to be a platoon between Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas. Kepler and Marsh may also share playing time in left field. Weston Wilson can play both the infield and outfield but is unproven as a starter long-term. Kyle Schwarber has transitioned to being the Phillies’ full-time designated hitter.
Kepler also needs to do better offensively in 2025 than last year. Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com wrote that he regressed in barrel and hard-hit rates from his career-highs in 2023. His barrel rate decreased from 12.2 percent to 6.2 percent, and his hard-hit rate dropped from 47.9 percent to 36.8 percent. He hit 24 home runs with 66 RBI in 2023 compared to eight homers and 42 RBI last year. The Phillies need him to have offensive numbers similar to two years ago to be considered a more dependable hitter in their lineup.
Garrett Stubbs beats Rafael Marchán for the backup catcher spot
There will be a competition for the backup catcher position to starter J.T. Realmuto. Garrett Stubbs will compete with Rafael Marchán for the spot after the reserve catcher has seen a dip in his OPS over the last two seasons.
After posting a career-high .812 OPS in 50 contests during his first year with the Phillies in 2022, Stubbs posted an OPS of .557 in 41 games in 2023. The 31-year-old compiled a .558 OPS in 2024 in 56 contests. Marchán totaled a .894 OPS in 17 games last year.
Stubbs finished with a .264/.350/.462 slash line in 2022 and a .204/.274/.283 line in 2023. The San Diego, California native compiled a slash line of .207/.296/.262 in 2024. Even though he is more experienced than Marchán, the 25-year-old could do better offensively as Realmuto’s backup.
Marchán does not have minor league options remaining, while Stubbs has one remaining. The San Cristobal, Venezuela, native needs to clear waivers if the Phillies send him back down to the minors during this season.
However, Marchán has dealt with multiple injuries over the last few seasons, primarily in Philadelphia’s minor league system. His lack of durability appears to be his biggest obstacle to being the club’s backup catcher in 2025.
