With Spring Training underway, a few questions need to be answered.
Can the changes in the bullpen hold up in the 2025 season?
Who will fill the gap on the bench with the Weston Wilson injury?
Last, but not least, will Rob Thomson make a change in the leadoff position?
Kyle Schwarber is not your prototypical leadoff hitter.
Many fans have become accustomed to Schwarber setting a tone with a leadoff Schwarbomb.
The question is, “Is it time for a change?” Schwarber has been dominating out of the Phillies' leadoff spot for years now, but a change may be in the cards.
Is Trea Turner the Man For the Job?
Trea Turner could make the most sense as a leadoff hitter. He has been the top name in talks for that change.
Turner as he hit .295 in 2024 and boasts a .296 batting average for his career.
Last Sunday, Turner was the Phillies' leadoff man in their split-squad spring training game against the Blue Jays. He was 0-3 with two Ks.
Not the best example.
That day, Justin Crawford would pinch hit, and Justin Crawford singled after legging out a ground ball to third baseman Michael Stefanic.
In 2022, Turner hit in the leadoff spot in 23 games. Turner had a staggering .337 batting average and .892 OPS in the leadoff spot in 2022.
He filled that spot in the lineup 15 times in 2023, only to hit .266 with a .674 OPS, so putting him in the position again in 2025 isn't a certainty.
Strikeouts in the leadoff position can be the difference maker. Schwarber struck out 197 times in 2024, the third most in baseball. He struck out 215 times in 2023 and 200 times in 2022, both leading the majors.
Turner struck out 98 times in 2024 and has never struck out more than 150 times in a single season. He’s continuously below the league average in strikeout percentage.
Turner had an 18.2 percent strikeout rate a season ago compared to Schwarber’s 28.5 percent. That could be a difference-maker, especially in the playoffs.
Leadoff hitters are meant to put the ball in play and get on base. Schwarber does an incredible job at drawing walks, but Turner will put the ball in play more often and be able to utilize his speed.
Could Someone Else Be A Better Fit?
A speedster like Johan Rojas may be a fit. However, it is up to Rojas to earn his spot on the field.
With Max Kepler coming in from the Minnesota Twins, he could lose his regular starting spot. Rojas is batting .250, with an OPS of .857, and has three RBIs. He scored three runs, had three hits, and hit a homer in twelve at-bats.
Second baseman Bryson Stott is another option on the roster. So far, in the early onset of Spring Training, Stott is batting .286 with an OPS of .831 with one RBI in seven at-bats.
As a wild card, could one of the Phillies’ top prospects, Justin Crawford, turn some heads? Crawford is batting .300, OPS .717, with four runs, three hits, and two stolen bases in ten at-bats.
Will Tomson Pull the Trigger?
Manager Rob Thomson may have had a change of heart. He has left the possibility open that someone else will take over as his leadoff hitter in 2025.
And while bumping Schwarber's powerful bat down to the middle of the lineup would make sense, Thomson needs to land on a reliable replacement before making any moves. *
Email Al Zaffiri at zaffiri@gmail.com
Kommentare