HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 28: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies stands during the National Anthem prior to Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
These five Philadelphia Phillies players won’t be on the Opening Day roster but will have an impact on the season.
The Philadelphia Phillies don’t have too many major roster decisions to make before Opening Day. There are a few spots for a reliever or bench player to sneak in. Spring training competitions will be lighter than in some past seasons. This is usually the case for contending teams. Starting gigs are tougher to find.
Several players who don’t make it onto the Opening Day roster will still make their mark on the season. They’ll have an impact, hopefully positively, on how far this team can go.
Expect these five Phillies players to have a different view on Opening Day than others.
1) Phillies slugger Bryce Harper won’t be on the Opening Day roster due to injury
This is an easy one. We already know Bryce Harper will be in recovery mode when Opening Day arrives. He will, undoubtedly, play a big role on this team in 2023.
The Phillies had to circumnavigate through much of the 2022 season without him. It began by having to use him as the DH. When he returned from the IL, the theme continued. He was finally able to get the surgery he needed in the offseason which should carry over several weeks into the 2023 season.
Harper might be the most important member of the Phillies organization. A true superstar and a threat the moment he digs his cleats into the batter’s box, a major ingredient to their success will be gone without him.
A big bonus when he does come back from the IL is that Harper should now be able to play the field again. This means the DH spot can fall in the lap of Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber more often, as originally planned.