Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) reacts after his double against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
These three Philadelphia Phillies players could make or break the team’s chance at winning a World Series in 2023.
The Philadelphia Phillies tried so hard and got so far. In the end, it did matter. Getting to the World Series is quite an accomplishment regardless of where you finished in the standings. They’ll look to take one more step forward in 2023, capturing a title this time around.
The Phillies have improved this offseason by making big and small additions to the roster. It’s hard to find too many other teams out there who improved as greatly as they did.
Heading into the 2023 season, it’s these three players who might be able to make or break the team’s World Series chances.
3. The Phillies need Bryce Harper back as soon as they can
Nobody is more important to the success of the Phillies than Bryce Harper. The 2021 MVP will miss a few months at the start of the 2023 season. He battled through injuries in 2022, playing the role of DH whenever he was healthy enough to at least hit.
Philadelphia does expect to have Harper back in the lineup and playing right field this season. It will benefit them greatly to be able to have Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos as the DH more regularly. This wasn’t an option for the club in 2022 once Harper’s injury limited his ability to throw a baseball.
Getting Harper back as soon as possible can make or break the team’s chance at a title. He has proven himself as one of the league’s best and most dangerous hitters. His presence alone is enough to have teams attack the Phillies differently.
A bad year from Harper, or even too lengthy of an IL stint, could push Philadelphia too far back in the standings early on. Could it end up costing them a playoff spot entirely? The National League might not have too many new contenders in it. All it takes is one to knock the Phillies out.