Phillies show potential Opening Day lineup at spring training

For the first time this spring training, Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson gave fans a glimpse of what might be the teams Opening Day lineup.

While fans question who the leadoff hitter might be, Kyle Schwarber was followed by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper as the Top 3.

So who hits No 4? Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, and J.T. Realmuto seem like the likely candidates.

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Last year Castellanos hitting fourth in 80 games.

Bohm hit fourth in 20 regular season games in 2023 and was in that spot in 10 of the teams 13 postseason games in the Phillies playoff run, which ended in the National League Championship Series against the D-Backs.

J.T. Realmuto hit No. 4 in just eight games last tear, but was in that spot on Monday and on Saturday behind the same Top 3.

So will Realmuto, who hit .252 with 20 home runs and 63 RBI in 135 games last team, get the first shot to hit fourth in 2024?

So far he's hitting .294 with one home run in 17 Spring Training at-bats.

After the No. 4 spot, left-handed swinging Bryson Stott could be locked in at No. 5 to split the right-handed bats with Bohm hitting sixth and Castellanos seventh. Free agent signee Whit Merrifield and Brandon Marsh could get alot of swings from the No. 8 spot . With Marsh, Merrifield, Johan Rojas or Christian Pache all candidates at No. 9.

Stott will balance out a right-handed heavy 4-7 spots and has a great ability to work at-bats ahead of two righties who combined for 49 homers last season.

The bottom of the order has a new look with Merrifield, who hit leadoff a bunch in his career and gives the team more speed at the bottom.

Marsh has been taking live at-bats against minor leaguers and is making his Grapefruit League debut today and will be that left-handed punch at the bottom of the order.

From there, there are still a few bench and bullpen roles to be had.

It would seem that 21 spots on the roster are locked, leaving five up-for-grabs.

Infield (4): Harper, Stott, Turner, Bohm, Sosa

Outfield (2): Marsh, Castellanos

Utility/DH (2): Merrifield, Schwarber

Catcher (2): Realmuto, Stubbs

Pitchers (5): Wheeler, Nola, Suarez, Sanchez, Walker

Bullpen (6): Alvarado, Kerkering, Straham, Dominguez, Hoffman, Soto

That would mean there are two spots in the bullpen and two on the bench

With Rojas, Pache, Jake Cave, David Dahl, Kody Clemens in play for the two final bench spots.

In the bullpen, Dylan Covey is likely to grab one spot with a host of arms still in play for another like Connor Brogdon, Michael Rucker, Michael Mercado, Spencer Turnbull and Yunior Marte.

The team must cut down to 26 players by Opening Day, when they host the Atlanta Braves on Thursday March 28 at Citizens Bank Park.