And then … April happens. And May. And by June, someone’s hitting in a completely different spot. By July, someone else is banged up. By August, someone we never expected is getting 400 at-bats.
But let’s live in the moment! Here’s our best guess at what Rob Thomson’s lineup will look like when the curtain rises on the Phillies’ 2025 season.
1. Trea Turner, SS
Will he really lead off? Could it be Kyle Schwarber? Is there a dark horse lurking?
Remember, this discussion started back in October when Thomson cracked the door open, saying he was considering other leadoff options. Well, here we are. And if Turner looks like the Turner of July or September 2024 and not the Turner of May 2023, then he makes too much sense atop the lineup.
For his career, Turner is a .302 hitter with with an .836 OPS and 102 OPS+ when hitting in the leadoff spot. So yeah, he's leading off. Probably.
Will he really lead off? Could it be Kyle Schwarber? Is there a dark horse lurking?
Remember, this discussion started back in October when Thomson cracked the door open, saying he was considering other leadoff options. Well, here we are. And if Turner looks like the Turner of July or September 2024 and not the Turner of May 2023, then he makes too much sense atop the lineup.
For his career, Turner is a .302 hitter with with an .836 OPS and 102 OPS+ when hitting in the leadoff spot. So yeah, he's leading off. Probably.
2. Bryce Harper, 1B
After signing a 13-year, $330 million contract to join the Phillies, Harper will be earning at least $23 million every season through 2031, when he will be 38 years old. He's now looking to potentially extend that contract a few more years.
This is Harper’s seventh Opening Day as a Phillie. How many did he play as a National? Yep, seven. So, if he keeps this up, we’re about three years away from Washington trying to claim him as a franchise icon again.
By the way, did you know Harper has a higher OPS as a Phillie (.924) than he did as a National (.900)? And that’s despite playing 200 fewer games in Philly.
Oh, and about him hitting second? He’d prefer to hit third, but he’s also the ultimate team guy. So if Thomson wants him in the two-hole, that’s where he’ll be.
After signing a 13-year, $330 million contract to join the Phillies, Harper will be earning at least $23 million every season through 2031, when he will be 38 years old. He's now looking to potentially extend that contract a few more years.
This is Harper’s seventh Opening Day as a Phillie. How many did he play as a National? Yep, seven. So, if he keeps this up, we’re about three years away from Washington trying to claim him as a franchise icon again.
By the way, did you know Harper has a higher OPS as a Phillie (.924) than he did as a National (.900)? And that’s despite playing 200 fewer games in Philly.
Oh, and about him hitting second? He’d prefer to hit third, but he’s also the ultimate team guy. So if Thomson wants him in the two-hole, that’s where he’ll be.
3. Alec Bohm, 3B
A year ago, Bohm spent the offseason in the middle of trade rumors. This spring, he’s responded by hitting .344 with three homers in 11 games.
Coincidence? Maybe. But there’s no denying he’s turned himself into one of the most reliable RBI guys in the league.
Ohm’s stellar first-half performance (.295/.348/.482 with 11 home runs, 33 doubles, and 70 RBI) gave way to a second-half slump, where he slashed just .251/.299/.382 with four home runs, 11 doubles, and 27 RBI.
He’s driven in 97 runs exactly in each of the last two seasons. Who does that? Maybe he’ll make it three straight just for fun.
A year ago, Bohm spent the offseason in the middle of trade rumors. This spring, he’s responded by hitting .344 with three homers in 11 games.
Coincidence? Maybe. But there’s no denying he’s turned himself into one of the most reliable RBI guys in the league.
Ohm’s stellar first-half performance (.295/.348/.482 with 11 home runs, 33 doubles, and 70 RBI) gave way to a second-half slump, where he slashed just .251/.299/.382 with four home runs, 11 doubles, and 27 RBI.
He’s driven in 97 runs exactly in each of the last two seasons. Who does that? Maybe he’ll make it three straight just for fun.
4. Kyle Schwarber, DH
Sure, he’s batting cleanup now. But how long will that last?
Look, we all know Schwarber in the leadoff spot is one of the great debates in modern baseball. The numbers say it shouldn’t work. But all the Phillies have done the last two seasons with him leading off is win. He's a career .227 hitter out of the leadoff spot with an .844 OPS. In comparison, he's hit .271 in the cleanup position with a .928 OPS.
So, will he stay here all season? Or will he be back at the top of the order by, say, the Fourth of July? If you’ve watched this team for even a week, you know the answer.
Sure, he’s batting cleanup now. But how long will that last?
Look, we all know Schwarber in the leadoff spot is one of the great debates in modern baseball. The numbers say it shouldn’t work. But all the Phillies have done the last two seasons with him leading off is win. He's a career .227 hitter out of the leadoff spot with an .844 OPS. In comparison, he's hit .271 in the cleanup position with a .928 OPS.
So, will he stay here all season? Or will he be back at the top of the order by, say, the Fourth of July? If you’ve watched this team for even a week, you know the answer.
5. Nick Castellanos, RF
First-half Castellanos last year: .193 average, .521 OPS, 28 strikeouts in March/April.
Second-half Castellanos: .839 OPS, crushed the Mets in the playoffs, and suddenly looked like an All-Star caliber outfielder.
So which version of Castellanos do the Phillies get this year? That’s the $100 million question.
First-half Castellanos last year: .193 average, .521 OPS, 28 strikeouts in March/April.
Second-half Castellanos: .839 OPS, crushed the Mets in the playoffs, and suddenly looked like an All-Star caliber outfielder.
So which version of Castellanos do the Phillies get this year? That’s the $100 million question.
6. Max Kepler, LF
On one hand, the Phillies didn’t need another left-handed bat.
On the other hand, Kepler has been mashing this spring.
Is spring training performance always a sign of things to come? Nope. But when a guy is hitting .382 with three bombs and 10 RBIs in 34 at-bats, people take notice.
On one hand, the Phillies didn’t need another left-handed bat.
On the other hand, Kepler has been mashing this spring.
Is spring training performance always a sign of things to come? Nope. But when a guy is hitting .382 with three bombs and 10 RBIs in 34 at-bats, people take notice.
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
Ah, yes. The "Best Catcher in Baseball." He’s been called that for years. But now, at 34 and entering a contract year, the question isn’t just whether he’s still that guy. It’s whether the Phillies will be the ones paying him in 2026.
He’s still an offensive threat and remains solid behind the dish. Even if he’s no longer peak J.T., he’s still better than almost every other catcher in the sport.
Ah, yes. The "Best Catcher in Baseball." He’s been called that for years. But now, at 34 and entering a contract year, the question isn’t just whether he’s still that guy. It’s whether the Phillies will be the ones paying him in 2026.
He’s still an offensive threat and remains solid behind the dish. Even if he’s no longer peak J.T., he’s still better than almost every other catcher in the sport.
8. Bryson Stott, 2B
Did you know Stott played nearly five months with an injured elbow last year? You didn’t?
Well, the Phillies did know, and they never shut him down. So now, we ask: How much did that elbow issue contribute to his second-half struggles?
No one is saying he’s on the clock, but let’s just say a big offensive jump in 2025 would be ideal.
Did you know Stott played nearly five months with an injured elbow last year? You didn’t?
Well, the Phillies did know, and they never shut him down. So now, we ask: How much did that elbow issue contribute to his second-half struggles?
No one is saying he’s on the clock, but let’s just say a big offensive jump in 2025 would be ideal.
9. Brandon Marsh, CF
You know what the Phillies would love? If Marsh could hit lefties.
Marsh’s ability to play every day has been a debate ever since he was acquired via trade at the 2022 deadline. He had a .552 OPS against lefties in 2024. He hopes this is the year where the platoon talk ends and he can secure an everyday spot in the lineup.
But he’s getting the start against Gore on Opening Day. Why? Because now is the time to find out—once and for all—whether he can be a full-time player.
So, there it is. The Opening Day lineup. It looks great today. But by midseason? Who knows! That’s the beauty of baseball.
You know what the Phillies would love? If Marsh could hit lefties.
Marsh’s ability to play every day has been a debate ever since he was acquired via trade at the 2022 deadline. He had a .552 OPS against lefties in 2024. He hopes this is the year where the platoon talk ends and he can secure an everyday spot in the lineup.
But he’s getting the start against Gore on Opening Day. Why? Because now is the time to find out—once and for all—whether he can be a full-time player.
So, there it is. The Opening Day lineup. It looks great today. But by midseason? Who knows! That’s the beauty of baseball.
