The countdown is over. The Phillies are back. Pitchers and catchers report to BayCare Ballpark today, marking the official start of spring training. By next Monday, the entire squad will be in camp.
Spring training always brings intrigue, even for a team with as much continuity as the Phillies. The club returns most of its pitching staff from 2024, with a few notable tweaks. Gone are Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez. In are left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo, late-inning righty Jordan Romano, and versatile right-hander Joe Ross. The competition for roster spots is slim, with just one bullpen spot, the backup catcher role, and a final bench job up for grabs. But don’t let that fool you—there’s plenty to watch over the next six weeks.
For starters, the Phillies’ top three prospects—Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford—are all in camp. Painter won’t be pitching in games as he works his way back from injury, but his presence alone will keep eyes glued to the backfields. Then there’s the trio of offseason acquisitions—Luzardo, Romano, and Max Kepler—each looking to bounce back after injury-plagued seasons. The Phillies didn’t overhaul their offense this winter, instead betting on Kepler’s impact and an improved pitching staff to make the difference.
The Phillies have exceeded the fourth luxury tax threshold, which carries a 110 percent penalty for every dollar spent over $301 million. It explains why they did not sign a single free agent to a multiyear contract: Kepler (one year, $10 million), Romano (one year, $8.5 million) and Ross (one year, $4 million).
Luzardo is under team control through the 2026 season. He will make $6.225 million this year.
Kepler, Romano and Luzardo are coming off injury-plagued seasons. Kepler had a .682 OPS and 91 OPS+ in 399 plate appearances with Minnesota, fighting a core injury that required surgery in October. Can he stay healthy in 2025? Kepler has not had more than 491 plate appearances in a season since 2019. Can he hit lefties? He has a career .778 OPS against righties and a .655 OPS against lefties. The Phillies are banking on both, calling Max Kepler their everyday left fielder. Luzardo went 3-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts with Miami. He didn’t pitch after June 16 because of a stress reaction in his lower back. Luzardo said he is 100 percent healthy. If he is, the Phils think he will return to prior form. He went 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts in 2023, starting Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Phillies.
Romano went 1-2 with a 6.59 ERA in 15 appearances with Toronto. He didn’t pitch after May 29 because of an injured right elbow, which required surgery. Romano comes into camp healthy. Again, the Phils believe he will return to form after he was an All-Star closer for the Blue Jays in 2022-23.
Do Kepler, Luzardo and Romano look healthy this spring? Are they performing well? The Phillies need them to be contributors this season to get to where they want to go.
But let’s be honest: This team’s success hinges on internal improvement. There’s another gear Trea Turner can reach—one the Phillies have only seen in flashes. Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh can be better than they were in 2024. Johan Rojas spent the offseason refining his approach and just won Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year after hitting .295 with a .382 OBP. The talent is there. The next step is consistency.
And speaking of adjustments, when last season ended, Rob Thomson and Dave Dombrowski made it clear: The Phillies need to use more of the field. The offense leans too heavily on pull power and aggressive swings. Spring training will be a proving ground for whether they can find better balance. If Turner and Stott can embrace a more all-fields approach, the lineup lengthens, and Turner becomes a more viable leadoff option.
So here we are. A veteran group, a six-week stretch of sun-soaked preparation, and a team with one goal—erasing the bitter taste of how 2024 ended. Grapefruit League action begins on Feb. 22, and for the Phillies, the road to redemption starts today.
