There are very few unknowns in Philly spring training this year. Bryce Harper will play first, and hit second or third. Nick Castellanos will play right field and chase too many pitches. Zack Wheeler will anchor one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.
But there are a few spots up for grabs to keep an eye on in Clearwater.
Three players will be on the four-man bench to start the year — Johan Rojas (or Brandon Marsh depending on who starts), Garrett Stubbs or Rafael Marchán at catcher, and Edmundo Sosa. The fourth spot seemed like Weston Wilson's to lose, but the outfielder hurt his back last week and will miss six weeks.
The last spot will probably go to whoever breaks out in spring training games and best fits the profile of what the team is looking for. Their preference is probably a right-handed bat who can fill in at multiple positions and who won't be lost to waivers if they want to bring up Wilson or someone else during the regular season.
Top prospects Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford are not candidates, as the team will want to see them play a full compliment of innings in the minors as they prepare to one day become everyday players in the big leagues.
Which leaves a lot of journeyman, unproven hitters and career utility-men vying for the part time role.
Here's a look at the leading candidates with their pros and cons:
Buddy Kennedy
The Pros:
- He's a right-handed hitter
- He has MLB experience, including this clutch RBI-single back in September
- He hit a 2-run homer early in spring training
- He has played nearly every position in the minors
- He'll be a fan favorite, hailing from Millville, NJ
The Cons:
- Kennedy has a thoroughly unimpressive .203/.295/.313 slash in 54 major league games
- He has no remaining minor league options — so the Phillies would risk losing him if he's sent down during the season
- He's made 88 errors over 411 professional games
Kody Clemens
The Pros:
- He has a lot of experience in the majors (relatively) having played in 146 career games
- His batting average is somehow 55 points higher against left-handed pitching over 395 career MLB plate appearances despite being a lefty
- He's got a little more power than the rest of the candidates with 14 career homers and 48 RBI in the majors
- He can play most defensive positions — including pitcher
The Cons:
- He's a lefty, and his splits are unusual
- He doesn't have any remaining minor league options
- His career slash line in the majors is not impressive, .200/.246/.373
Cal Stevenson
The Pros:
- He started his spring with a double and stolen base
- He is an excellent defender, remember this?
- He has an option remaining, helping the Phillies to preserve some flexibility
The Cons:
- He's a lefty and cannot hit left-handed pitching well
- He's mustered just 16 hits in 93 career MLB at bats (.172)
- He does not hit for much power
- He is an outfielder only
Christian Arroyo
The Pros:
- He is right-handed and hits left-handed pitching well
- He plays all over the field defensively
- He has a real MLB resume — the 28-year-old has appeared in 295 games for San Francisco, Tampa, Cleveland and Boston
- In that span he has a .252 career batting average
The Cons:
- A combination of injury issues and poor play kept him in the minor leagues in 2024, with the Brewers organization
- He had a rough 2024 at the plate in the minors
- He doesn't have a ton of power or speed
- He doesn't have any remaining minor league options
Rodolfo Castro
The Pros:
- He is a switch hitter
- Can play everywhere on defense
- He has a solid resume with 194 MLB games
- At just 25, there is room for improvement
The Cons:
- Even as a switch-hitter, he has his best numbers as a lefty hitting righties (.264 average vs. a .191 average)
- His career splits aren't impressive: .219/.292/.380
- He doesn't have any remaining minor league options
Óscar Mercado
The Pros:
- Mercado had a very good rookie year in Cleveland, hitting .269 with 15 homers, 15 stolen bases and 54 RBI
- He is a righty and has better numbers against left-handed pitchers
The Cons:
- He has not come close to playing as well as he did as a rookie with a .206/.262/.334 slash, and 11 total homers in 184 games since
- He only plays in the outfield
- He doesn't have any remaining minor league options
Gabriel Rincones Jr.
The Pros:
- He started the spring with a homer on Sunday
- He's a one-time highly-touted prospect in the Phillies farm system and is just 23
- He has shown he has some good power in the minors
- He has all of his minor league options remaining
The Cons:
- He's never played in the majors
- He's a left-handed hitter
- He only plays in the outfield
Eric Hartline/USA Today Sports
