DALLAS — It has been very obvious all offseason that the Philadelphia Phillies want to shake issues up after one other season of falling wanting profitable the World Collection. With that in thoughts, might a batting order change involving Bryce Harper be sooner or later?
Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson was requested concerning the potential of Harper batting first this season and did not dismiss the notion, but in addition added that it’d take some convincing for the 32-year-old Harper, who batted third within the Philadelphia lineup in all 145 video games through which he stepped into the batter’s field in 2024.
“That is one thing that might be a protracted dialog, I believe. I am unsure Bryce could be prepared to go there,” Thomson stated.
“I believe the extra at-bats you get for one of the best hitters, the higher probabilities you’ve got. That is the concept behind it. He will get extra at-bats to get into the Corridor of Fame.”
Kyle Schwarber was the leadoff hitter for the Phillies in every of his 149 sport appearances in 2024. The slugger hit 38 dwelling runs and led the Nationwide League with 106 walks final season, changing into one in every of simply three gamers (together with Aaron Decide and Juan Soto to rack up triple-digits in walks). Nonetheless, there was discuss up to now that, whereas Schwarber is a power on the high of the order, shifting him into extra of a conventional spot within the lineup could profit the Philadelphia offense.
Whether or not Harper, who belted 30 dwelling runs final season, shifting up within the order would profit the Phillies or not stays to be seen. Nonetheless, it is clear that nothing is off the desk by way of making an attempt to push the Phillies again to their first World Collection title since 2008.
For now, although, the Phillies are attempting to see precisely what their workforce will appear like after an offseason that’s crammed with trade rumors round third baseman Alec Bohm and chases for pitchers such as Roki Sasaki.
“I am simply ready to see what the ultimate roster seems like, and we are able to kind of begin breaking it down,” Thomson stated.
