One potential breakout candidate at Phillies Spring Training

When it comes to the 2024 Philadelphia Phillies, their Opening Day roster will look a lot like the 2023 Phillies.

There are very few new faces, so when it comes to a breakout star there aren't a lot of options on the roster.

Johan Rojas and Orion Kerkering are two young players, but who might be a candidate to be the team's breakout player for 2024?

CBS Sports MLB writer R.J. Anderson named one breakout candidate from each of the 30 MLB teams and had an interesting name for the Phillies.

Michael Mercado. The team acquired the pitcher from Tampa Bay back on Nov. 23 2023 in exchange for minor league pitcher Adam Leverett and cash.

It would be cheap to pick Johan Rojas and lame to select Orion Kerkering. We're rolling with Mercado, a minor offseason addition who should see big-league action at some point this summer. Mercado has a rising mid-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss curveball. This will serve as just his second season as a full-time reliever. We suspect that he'll be able to solidify himself in that role.

Mercado, 24, had a 4.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts in 62 innings in 52 appearances between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham during the 2023 season.

The 6-foot-4, right-hander was the Rays’ second-round selection from the 2017 draft class and should provide bullpen depth for the Phillies.