Mar 8, 2025; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) reaches third base against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The biggest gripe Phillies fans had about Kyle Schwarber as a lead off hitter is he hit too many solo home runs.
Leadoff hitters are supposed to be guys who get on base (Schwarber did better than any other Phillie in 2024) and let the power guys drive them home.
So, when the Phillies announced they were willing to consider a change at the top of the lineup, some fans rejoiced.
Trea Turner is supposed to be that speedy, on base guy who can make things happen and score runs when the RBI guys, Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and Schwarber, come up behind him.
Thursday was Turner's latest audition for the leadoff hitter gig. And to win the job he decided to do an impression of Schwarber.
Turner hit a leadoff homerun in what was an offensive assault on a bevy of minor league pitchers trotted out by the Atlanta Braves, in a 16-9 win for the Phillies.
Trea Turner keeps this one fair ☄️ #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/wpyQNgzJRl
Turner set the pace for the offense with the leadoff longball. Schwarber also homered - a 3-run shot with Turner and Harper on base - as did Bryson Stott and Max Kepler.
But it was Turner who got the conversation buzzing. Manager Rob Thomson said Turner is swinging the bat well, but seemed more impressed with the fact he also walked and hit a sacrifice fly - the patience and situational plate appearance are more important if Turner is going to be a success.
Does leading off force Turner to have more focus on controlling the strike zone and having better plate discipline than batting elsewhere in the lineup?
“I hope he’s selective and controls the zone wherever he hits [in the batting order],” Thomson said. “But if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
It's likely going to happen on Opening Day, but how long Turner stays in that spot depends on how often he gets on base. He's not nearly the selective hitter Schwarber is, so to match Schwarber's on base skills is going to take effort.
He doesn't have to walk as much as Schwarber, because he hits for a higher average, but he has to walk more than he has in his first two seasons to make up the difference.
If he can, then this switch will be a success. If he doesn't, don't be surprised if Thomson turns back to Schwarber leading off again.
Matt Strahm saw the doctor to check out the inflammation in his left shoulder, and the decision was to keep him shut down for two more days and re-evaluate him on Saturday.
Thomson said Strahm is feeling better, but the longer he goes without pitching, the more likely it is that he starts the season on the I.L. - even if it's only for two weeks.
The Phillies will likely be cautious with Strahm because of how important he is to the bullpen and would much rather that he's healthy in October than in March, if given the choice.
As such, there's an opportunity for someone to take the spot on the roster. There's a slew of relievers in camp, but Thomson made sure to mention two of them Thursday - Devin Sweet and Nabil Crismatt.
Crismatt pitched again on Thursday and had another solid outing.
He pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. His ERA so far this spring is 2.70.
Phillies Stoplight 3/13 with @TimKellySports and @AntSanPhilly 🚦 🌴
🚥: Trea Turner locked in as leadoff hitter?
🚥: Latest on Matt Strahm
🚥: How impressive has Max Kepler been? pic.twitter.com/eCQv1O2f6U
Thomson said the plan was to give him an up/down - meaning pitch across two separate innings that had him warm up, pitch, sit down, and then come put and pitch again - something not all relievers are accustomed to doing.
Not Crismatt. He'll pitch as much as you want.
"He's a guy you can hand him the ball and say, 'turn the lights out when you are done,' Thomson said. "And he'll do it. He's that type of guy. He's going to take the ball, pitch and eat up innings for you."
Sweet didn't pitch Thursday, but he has looked good in camp so far - minus one rough outing against Boston on Tuesday.
Sweet is on the 40-man roster, and has two options left, meaning the Phillies can send him to the minors and recall him later this season.
Crismatt is a non-roster invitee, so he would have to be added to the 40-man roster. The Phillies currently have 14 starting pitchers on the 40-man roster, so they could probably afford to lose one of them.
Tyler Phillips is out of options, and he scuffled again Thursday allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. He has an ERA of 10.80 this spring, making his spot on the depth chart precarious.
The Phillies top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter, won't pitch in the Spring Breakout game against Pittsburgh on Friday, as he's not going to pitch in any Spring Training games.
But that doesn't mean he won't face actual hitters.
My New Top 10 Pitching Prospect Rankings for #FantasyBaseball.
1. Andrew Painter
2. Jackson Jobe
3. Noah Schultz
4. Bubba Chandler
5. Travis Sykora
6. Alejandro Rosario
7. Kumar Rocker
8. Quinn Mathews
9. Chase Dollander
10. Cade Hortonpic.twitter.com/okOCbQblMr
While the rest of the Phillies top prospects are squaring off against the Bucs' top prospects, Painter will face batters in live batting practice on a back field.
This doesn't expedite his arrival, as it's all part of his planned throwing program for a "July-ish" major league debut, but it's a sure bet that the powers that be will make a quick jaunt from BayCare Ballpark to the practice diamonds to check out Painter.
Thomson said he will throw roughly 20 pitches in the session.
The Phillies are looking for any righthanded option they can find to play the outfield. On Thursday they tried Rodolfo Castro out there in centerfield and he made a diving catch.
Not a threat to make the roster - and swinging the bat only righthanded now, having abandoned switch hitting - Castro is still considered a depth option if injuries necessitate a callup from the minors, and the Phillies have been impressed by how he's taken to the position.
Versatility and utility make him more valuable than he would have been had he remained an infield-only switch hitter who couldn't hit left-handed.
