Phillies Mailbag: Spring Training 2025 Opens

We are back with a new season of the Phillies Mailbag on 97.3 ESPN.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions answered on the air.   Ask a question at any time to @FrankKlose on X or on Blue Sky at @frankklose.bsky.social.

Who is your “top early” call up prediction to make the regular season roster?
~Dave

The Phillies have three very noteworthy prospects heading into the 2025 season.  They would be pitching prospect Andrew Painter, infield prospect Aidan Miller, and outfield prospect Justin Crawford.  MLB Pipeline ranks each of them among the Top 100 prospects in the game.

I think the Phillies almost plan for Painter to make an appearance at the major league level in 2025.  They will, however, set him back in order to limit his innings after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery on his pitching elbow.  That would mean a July debut at the very least.

I think that if all else is going well, the Phillies could be content to hold him back even longer.  If the Phillies find themselves desperate for pitching, that could mean he is around sooner than later.

Understanding that Painter is considered a likelihood at this point, my next choice would be Crawford.

The reason for that is twofold:  First, Miller is still in some ways taking hold of the shortstop position.  And secondly, Crawford has more experience in higher levels of the system at this point.

The Phillies drafted Miller primarily for his bat, and originally planned to play him at third base.  But at Miller's advocacy, he started at shortstop.  He has yet to leave the position since, a testament to his hard work.  But I think there's more to write there.

Crawford has 40 games under his belt at Double-A Reading.   That could mean he opens the season at Reading, with the potential for a move to Triple-A along the way.

Miller, on the other hand, had just a five-game taste of Double-A.  I think they would want him to be there longer   I would imagine that Miller begins at Double-A Reading and could be a mid- to late-season move to Triple-A.

It might be easier for Crawford to crack the outfield than it is for Miller to crack the infield.  I think any infield moves to make room would happen during an off-season, not during the season.  But an injury could always move up timelines for either Crawford or Miller.

What do you think is the Phillies biggest strength heading into Spring Training, and what do you think is the biggest Phillies weakness?
~Barbara

I believe that with the addition of Jesus Luzardo, the signing of potential swingman Joe Ross, and with Andrew Painter waiting in the wings, the Phillies starting pitching is going to be what helps the Phillies get ahead in the National League East.

Last season it was the starting rotation that got the Phillies off to a really strong start and a lead that was almost never questioned throughout the season.  I will not list the bullpen as a weakness for that reason; the more innings a starting staff throws, the less a bullpen is overworked.

Ross is a great fill-in as Spencer Turnbull was for them last year until he succumbed to an injury of his own.  And if July comes and the Phillies are stuck, Painter hopefully would be ready to jump in.  His talent is hardly disputed.

The weakness right now I would actually put on the lineup. The only real addition to the Phillies lineup this season is Max Kepler.  Kepler is a nice player, but he is far from a power bat in the lineup.

Much will rest on whether Bryson Stott is able to have a productive season after what might have been a previously-undisclosed elbow issue.  Whether Alec Bohm would be the first half player he was over the second half.  And how many games catcher J.T. Realmuto will get on the field.

A lineup shuffle appears to be imminent in order to spread out the power from Kyle Schwarber, who is the only left-handed power bat beyond Bryce Harper.

It's far from a "weak" lineup, but after some inconsistency last season, I might wonder how consistent they might be this season, if not during the season but down the stretch when they might need it most.

Why is Taijuan Walker still with the Phillies?  What is your take on how he will fit in?
~Ray

Well, on paper, there really is no obvious fit for Taijuan Walker.   The big Phillies offseason splash was to acquire starter Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins.  Luzardo along with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, and Ranger Suárez would make five starters.

The Phillies bullpen lost both Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman, but added Jordan Romano and Joe Ross.

So why is he there?

I think it comes down to this: The Phillies are spending a lot of money on Walker.  He is due another $38 million for two more seasons.   I don't think the Phillies mind eating the money if they have to.

But think of it this way: if they cut him before getting a look at him in Spring Training and he has a rebound, how would the Phillies feel to be paying all that money for Walker to pitch well for someone else?

If Walker was to be released, I'm sure that he would have no problem finding a team to give him a chance.

In Spring Training the Phillies can see firsthand what happened with his velocity and his signature sinker pitch.  If Walker rebounded over the Winter, the Phillies will find a way to include him on the roster.

If he has nothing left, then they can cut him loose.

But between now and Opening Day roster decision time, the Phillies need not worry about whether he is taking up a roster spot.  They are paying him anyway, and if he has something in the tank, it's better he's doing it for the Phillies.