As the snow slowly melts throughout the Delaware Valley, temperatures sit in the 70s in Clearwater as the Phillies delve into their first week of full squad workouts of the Spring.
With the full mix of pitchers and position players, starters and bench players, veterans and rookies all in one place, the story of the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies has truly begun.
After an offseason of question marks, the re-signings of Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto locked in two of the Phillies’ most valuable clubhouse leaders. The pair highlight a largely unchanged core of the Phillies’ lineup, including Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Bryce Harper.
Harper’s name in particular has continued to be a conversation point throughout the offseason, as comments by Dave Dombrowski following his “not elite” performance in 2025 have echoed through the empty stands of Citizens Bank Park all offseason.
Though Harper began his response to the comment to reporters on Sunday, stating that he does not get motivated by comments such as Dombrowski’s, his wearing of a “not elite” shirt in offseason workouts indicates a different story.
“Obviously, I didn't have the year I wanted,” said Harper. “Obviously, I didn't have the postseason I wanted. My numbers weren't where they needed to be. I know that... For Dave to come out and say those things, it's kind of wild to me.”
With no substantial changes in the infield, eyes will be on the newly arranged outfield in the early stages of camp. Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp stand as the two returners from 2025 and will likely platoon together in left field to start the season. Marsh is coming off a strong season against right-handers, while Kemp is positioned to fill in on Marsh’s blind side against left-handed pitching.
A substantial change has been made to the opposite corner with Adolis García taking over in right field in place of Nick Castellanos. Coming off a career low .665 OPS in 2025, García has a clean slate to work with in Philadelphia. In Garcia’s introductory press conference in December, Dombrowski made it clear he believes García’s issue in 2025 was an issue of approach, not aptitude.
“The ball jumps off his bat still,” said Dombrowski. “Bat speed’s still there, exit velocity is very good… We think it has more to do with approach than it would be abilities.”
Just as center field is the glue to an outfield’s defense, Justin Crawford will be the piece that makes or breaks the outfield in 2026. The 22-year-old is the expected starting center fielder on Opening Day after a strong year in AAA Lehigh Valley in 2025. Crawford batted .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs on the year. The final question remaining for Crawford is simple: Can the contact hitter keep up the success against Major League pitchers?
Cristopher Sánchez went from a mid-rotation asset to a top-of-the-line ace in 2025. Entering camp as the presumed Opening Day starter, Sánchez will look to earn Cy Young votes for a second straight year in 2026.
Sánchez will need to hold down the fort at the top of the rotation until such a time that Zack Wheeler is ready to return following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. The 35-year-old right-hander will not be ready to pitch come Opening Day, but recently threw from 120 feet for the first time since his surgery. Wheeler will likely return in the early months of the season.
Aaron Nola and Jesús Luzardo will both return to the rotation with a chip on their shoulders. Nola, coming off a career-worst season in 2025, will seek to prove he still has ace material in him. Luzardo, meanwhile, is entering a contract year and will seek to impress any potential suitors in free agency.
Long-anticipated prospect Andrew Painter is expected to make the roster out of Spring Training and make his subsequent Major League debut in the Phillies’ rotation. However, Painter will need to prove his worth against veteran Taijuan Walker should he want to remain in the rotation following Wheeler’s return. Painter certainly has the inside track for the job, but Walker’s experience and success in 2025 are not to be ignored.
Once the laughingstock of baseball, the Phillies’ bullpen is projected to be the third-strongest in baseball by Fangraphs this season. That strength begins at the top as the Phillies have an established closer for the first time in years in Jhoan Durán. Durán had 16 saves and a 2.18 ERA across 23 games after being traded to the Phillies.
Behind Durán will be a contingent of familiar faces. The Phillies will have a full season of Jose Alvarado after having missed much of 2025 due to his suspension. Orion Kerkering, meanwhile, will put the 2025 postseason out of his mind in the new year. Tanner Banks, Max Lazar, and Walker also return to the bullpen conversation, with Walker likely serving as a swingman once more between the bullpen and rotation. A string of new faces has also entered the fray to reinforce the bullpen, such as Brad Keller, Jonathan Bowlan, Zach Pop, and Zach McCambley.
While there have been several changes towards the periphery this offseason, the core of this Phillies team has remained: Harper, Turner, Schwarber, Wheeler, and Nola. And they are not getting any younger.
Having been eliminated in the National League Division Series two years straight, the Phillies are running out of time to win the World Series with this core intact.
As Grapefruit League action begins on Saturday, Feb. 21, there lies one simple storyline the Phillies will follow more than any other: Can this team get it done? Or will this be another year of disappointment?
