Today’s finally the day! Well, maybe you can remove “finally” from that statement. It feels like it was only a matter of weeks, not months, since the Philadelphia Phillies were playing in the World Series. The offseason has flown by, and since it was an incredibly busy one for the Phils, we haven’t really had a chance to catch our collective breath and prepare for the 2023 season. Well, we better get geared up, because as of today, February 16th, pitchers and catchers have reported to Clearwater, Florida to start their prep for the 2023 campaign. This team is going to dominate the summer sports news cycle in this city, and has numerous interesting storylines, but, for now, here are some of the early spring training story lines for pitchers and catchers that you should be aware of.
Will Andrew Painter make the opening day roster?
This is question number one. The most exciting position battle on the entire roster, and one of the most interesting in all of baseball. Can 19-year-old, best pitching prospect in baseball Andrew Painter actually make the opening day roster as the Phillies 5th starter?? Well, it’s certainly a possibility. Phillies President of Baseball Ops Dave Dombrowski has said as much. Now, to do so, he’ll have to beat out Bailey Falter, who made 16 starts for the Phillies last season, as well as Cristopher Sanchez, who made 3 spot starts with the Major League team. Andrew Painter has never made an appearance higher than AA ball, but by most accounts he’s ready for MLB level competition. It will be very interesting to see how the Phils handle their young stud.
How does Zack Wheeler look, health-wise?
At the end of last year’s regular season, Zack Wheeler was absolutely worn down. In fairness, it was the most innings any of the Phillies’ starters had thrown in a season (that were on the opening day roster). That, though, means this has been the shortest offseason for all of these guys as well, and Zack Wheeler was clearly dealing with some type of dead-arm ailment throughout the final month of the season and the playoffs. Have the 3 months off been enough recovery time for the Phillies’ ace? Is the shoulder that ailed him during last year’s spring training still a concern? The Phillies have a great roster, but Wheeler is one of the most important pieces for this team to reach their true potential.
What does Aaron Nola look like in a contract year?
All of the talk this offseason has been about Rhys Hoskins’ future with the Phillies, considering the 1st baseman is set for a monster pay day when he hits free agency for the first time next winter. Lost in that shuffle, though, is the fact that Aaron Nola is also looking at free agency after this season. He’s hugely important to this rotation, and still one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball. He’s homegrown, he’s now had deep playoff experience, and he’s deserving of a contract extension with Philly. If they’re unwilling to give it in season, though, how much does an impending pay day motivate him to have another Cy Young caliber year like he turned in back in 2018?
