Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

Phillies Nuggets: Opening Day lineup projection 2.0

The Philadelphia Phillies are slated to open their 2023 slate in Arlington against Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers on Thursday, March 30. Here’s our second projection of what Rob Thomson’s lineup — without the rehabbing Bryce Harper — will look like against Jacob deGrom and the Rangers.

No. 1: Trea Turner, Shortstop

While the Phillies will be without Bryce Harper to open the season, fans shouldn’t have to wait too long to see the new toy as the disposal of the team. Turner has hit over .300 in his career hitting at leadoff and No. 2. The guess here is he’ll hit at the top of the order to open the 2023 season.

No. 2: Rhys Hoskins, First Base

Hoskins will make $12 million in 2023, his final year of arbitration eligibility. In parts of six seasons with the Phillies, Hoskins has an .846 OPS. Scott Boras, who represents Hoskins, made the case earlier this offseason for why the Phillies should sign his client to a long-term deal.

No. 3: Kyle Schwarber, Left Field

While Schwarber isn’t a prototypical leadoff hitter, there’s something to be said for getting him as many at-bats as possible when he’s in the midst of one of his home run streaks. With that said, Turner’s presence will allow Rob Thomson to be more flexible with Schwarber in his second season with the Phillies. With Harper’s absence in the lineup, it makes sense to utilize Schwarber’s left-handed thump in either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot.

No. 4: J.T. Realmuto, Catcher

Realmuto hit third during last year’s World Series run, but that lineup included Harper and didn’t yet have Turner as a table-setter. We’re projecting that the three-time Silver Slugger Award winner hits cleanup to open the 2023 season, but he’s really capable of hitting anywhere in the lineup.

No. 5: Nick Castellanos, Right Field

In the second year of a five-year/$100 million deal, Castellanos will almost certainly get the chance to hit in the middle of the order at the outset of the season. But if he doesn’t bounce back after posting a .694 OPS in 2022, he’ll be pushed down the lineup once Harper returns, and perhaps even sooner.

No. 6: Darick Hall, DH

Hall isn’t going to be the DH every day in Harper’s absence, but he may very well get the largest share of the at-bats. In 130 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers in 2022, Hall homered nine times and posted an .865 OPS.

No. 7: Alec Bohm, Third Base

Bohm hit .434 with 14 RBIs and a 1.088 OPS in July of 2022. He obviously didn’t sacrifice his ability to put the ball in play, but the former No. 3 overall pick flashed the ability to pull the ball on a more frequent basis during the best month of his career. If Bohm can tap into that consistently in his second year working with hitting coach Kevin Long, he won’t be hitting seventh for very long.

No. 8: Bryson Stott, Second Base

After the All-Star Break, Stott slashed .276/.331/.404 with a .735 OPS. He had multiple lengthy postseason at-bats, including one against future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. If he takes another step forward in his sophomore season, the Phillies lineup has a chance to be the best in baseball.

No. 9: Brandon Marsh, Center Field

With the trade of Matt Vierling to Detroit, Marsh figures to get the bulk of starts in center field even against left-handed pitching early in 2023. The Phillies have said this offseason that they don’t believe Marsh is a platoon player, even if that’s essentially what he was during the 2022 postseason run.