Spring Training is upon us, and the Philadelphia Phillies have returned to action.
The players are in Clearwater, Florida, preparing to defend their first National League East title since 2011. After an early exit against their rivals, the New York Mets, fans have begun to question the current status of the Phillies roster. From the bullpen to the lineup, the Phillies fanbase has let their voices be heard.
Regarding the infield, each starter finds themselves associated with a growing opinion. As question marks bubble, I break down the biggest question for each member of the club’s starting infield.
Phillies Infield
Can JT Realmuto return to offensive excellence?
Catcher J.T. Realmuto deserves all the credit in the world.
Since joining the Phillies in 2019, Realmuto has caught more innings than any other catcher in the big leagues. This past season, J.T.’s stats were much better following the All-Star break (.272/.337/.451/.788 with 7 HR and 27 RBI) than prior to (.261/.309/.411/.720 with 7 HR and 20 RBI).
Despite the production, his offensive numbers weren’t up to the standard that the Phillies needed. He finished 2024 with a .266/.322/.429/.751 line with 14 home runs and only 47 RBI. The only statistic that JT Realmuto was in the top 10 amongst catchers with as many or more at-bats is his batting average, where he ranked 8th.
The big question for Realmuto in 2024 is if he can get the bat going once again. He is an integral part of the Phillies’ roster, and they’re going to need him to get it going again on offense if they want to make noise this postseason.
Can Bryce Harper stay on the field?
Bryce Harper is not a player you need to question in any aspect. He has earned the trust of everyone in the entire league; however, he has had to battle some injuries during his time with the Phillies.
Last year he played in 145 of the 162 games, the second most since he joined the Phillies (excluding the 2020 year when he played 58 out of the 60 games). The Phillies need him to stay healthy to win it all, and with a full offseason without rehabbing a serious injury, I think fans can expect him to be there for at least 145 this season.
If Harper can maintain his health, he should return to MVP form in 2025.
Bryson Stott—2023 or 2024?
Second baseman Bryson Stott started his sophomore season with a 17-game hit streak in 2023. He was one of the most consistent and clutch players on the Phillies that year. During his third season, Stott reportedly dealt with a lingering elbow issue that began in June. He would deal with the injury for the remainder of the season. His best month in 2024 was in July, where he hit .292/.340/.604/.944 with 10 HR and 23 RBI.
This season might be make or break for Bryson Stott. With the rise of top prospect Aidan Miller, Stott will need to shine once again in 2025. The question of his offensive ability will remain until Bryson is able to hit consistently. Will this season be a repeat of 2023 or 2024?
Will Trea Turner find consistency?
Shortstop Trea Turner has had an up-and-down start to his Phillies tenure.
The standing ovation in 2023 has been well documented to this point. Turner’s struggles got him off on the wrong foot in his Phillies tenure, but he turned things around last season. His second year saw improvement, but he struggled in September and October.
Not only has Trea been a roller coaster offensively, but defensively as well. His first two seasons with Philadelphia were the most error-filled seasons of his career, committing 23 and 17 errors, respectively. Turner is one of the many big names on the roster that the Phillies are relying on to get them over the hump, and the consistency needs to be there for them to accomplish their goal.
Can Trea Turner be consistent on both sides of the ball? 2025 might unlock the answer to this question.
Can Alec Bohm dial in?
Third baseman Alec Bohm had the best first half of his career in 2024.
Bohm parlayed that hitting dominance by earning his first All-Star nod. Following the All-Star break, he suffered a hand injury and could not regain the same hitting prowess that he showcased in the first half of the year.
At the break, Bohm was hitting .295/.348/.482/.830 with 11 HR and 70 RBI. It felt like he was guaranteed to get a hit with a runner on base. After the break, he hit .251/.299/.382/.681 with four HR and 27 RBI. He struggled mightily and could not find ways to get on base.
Bohm dominated the Phillies talk this offseason. He was included in several trade rumors this offseason, despite assurances by Rob Thomson and Dave Dombrowski that the club had no interest in moving him.
Alec is a mentally driven player. What I mean by that is if everything is good, he is capable of ripping doubles into the left field gap every single night. On the flip side, if something isn’t going right, he starts to struggle.
The question will be if Alec Bohm can figure out how to control the emotional side of baseball. If Alec can dial in this season, 2024 might just be the stepping stone to greatness that the Phillies were hoping for.
Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
