Phillies Mailbag: Miller's Rise, Outfield Platoon Partner, Relief

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag. Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports bash with Mike Gill. Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

When Miller inefitably gets hot this summer, is Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott in more danger?
~Rich

Grapefruit League action has begun and there is a significant buzz around Phillies infield prospect Aidan Miller. Miller has yet to appear in a game due to what Bryce Harper revealed on Sunday's Phillies broadcast to be a "sore back".

But the number 23 prospect in baseball will get a good look this Spring at both third base and shortstop, while getting many at bats. The feeling is that after Miller's really strong second half in 2025, a rise to the major leagues could come sooner than later.

I think it's a bit premaure to speculate where the prospect may rise.

As much as one might hope it not be the case, odds are that an injury would happen somewhere for at least some time in 2026. You hope it is not the case. But I can see a scenario where Miller gets the call upon an injury.

Miller could fill in at third or short, and I think if they had an injury at second base they would bring Miller up. If there is an injury at designated hitter or first base, Bohm could shift to first base for the time being.

Without an injury? I think the Phillies could look to create place at the trade deadline if it is a real serious push to the major leagues.

But there is a lot of baseball left between now and then.

A pending Alec Bohm free agent departure could open up a spot after the season. But let's see how Miller plays, how the others play, and let the season play out.

Who will be the platoon partner to Brandon Marsh in left field?
~Dan

As it stands right now, I see two prime candidates for the left-field platoon spot. Lefty Brandon Marsh will get the at bats against right-handed pitching. As of right now I would say Otto Kemp and Bryan de la Cruz appear to be the two primary candidates for at bats from the right side, with Pedro Leon and Dylan Moore also a possibility.

Kemp is a good candidate for a roster spot no matter what. With Weston Wilson now with the Baltimore Orioles, there are no other players who can switch between the outfield and infield. That's a very helpful tool set to have and Kemp can do it.

But will he be in the platoon?

He may have some competition from Bryan de la Cruz, in camp on a minor league deal. De la Cruz may be familiar to Phillies fans from his time with the Miami Marlins and cup of coffee with the Atlanta Braves.

De la Cruz won the Dominican League MVP award this past winter, after he hit for average and power. Can he do so again?

At the height of his career, he hit 21 home runs. However, most came against right-handed pitching. Yet, I think that the Phillies will give him a shot at a bench job if he is able to demonstrate in Spring Training that he Dominican League was not a fluke.

Pedro Leon is on the roster. He does not have much major league experience, but he has been considered a prospect in the past with the Houston Astros. Leon was thought to be a nice mix of speed and power. But he has something to prove.

Keep an eye too on Dylan Moore. The one-time Seattle Mariner and briefly Texas Ranger can play infield and outfield. A right-handed bat, he is best known for a 2024 Gold Glove as a utility player. But he has regularly had a sub-.700 OPS.

Who has the inside track for the final three bullpen spots?
~Gary

We know that five bullpen spots are locked down. Johan Duran will return as the Phillies closer. Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado are the top setup options from the right and left sides, respectively. And Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks are the level below.

There is some wiggle room with the last three spots. These are my favorites for the role, assuming that Taijuan Walker opens the season in the starting rotation while Zack Wheeler ramps up for a late start.

On the right side, I believe that Jonathan Bowland has the inside edge for a spot. Acquired from the Kansas City Royals in the Matt Strahm trade, Bowland spent 2025 going back and forth between Kansas City and Triple-A Omaha.

Boland put forth a nice effort for the Royals, going 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 34 games, which included one start. Now out of options, it is time for Bowland to show he can stay in the major leagues.

I think the Phillies will give him a long look this Spring and likely to start the season.

From the left side, I think Kyle Backhus will have the inside edge. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade for Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Backhus could be a third reliever from the left side, something Phillies manager Rob Thomson has openly said he hoped to have.

Backhus, unlike Bowland, is out of minor league options.

The final spot I will currently give to right-hander Zach McCambley. This could change before the Phillies open on March 26, but as a Rule 5 pick, the Phillies have to keep him on the roster for the full 2026 season or will have to offer him back to the Miami Marlins.

Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2026, McCambley had a 2.90 ERA in 47 appearances and 62 innings, with an eye-opening 83 strikeouts.