March 3, 2021
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about spring training games starting, Jeff Mathis batting cleanup in a spring training game (and once improbably batting fifth in a regular-season game), the latest reports about suspended Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway, the postponement of the start of the Triple-A season, the outlook for attendance in Texas, and Zack Greinke’s quest to join the exclusive 10-10 club for pitchers, then preview the 2021 Angels (26:23) with Fabian Ardaya of
The Athletic and the 2021 Royals (1:09:10) with Lynn Worthy of
The Kansas City Star.
2021 EW Season Preview Series
AL
Philadelphia has one of the worst farm systems in baseball, but it is probably a bit top heavy, as there are a bunch of players who will be knocking on the door for a big league job sometime soon.
Just below, we ve broken down the top 10 prospects in the Phillies minor league system, as rated by fangraphs.com. A short scouting report and the year they project to make an impact on the big league club are included. You ll no doubt notice some familiar names, former first round picks, and a few dark horses you ve never heard of.
1. Spencer Howard, 24, SP: 2021
The 10 most interesting Phillies spring training storylines phillyvoice.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phillyvoice.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
We ll give projecting the roster another try, as we look to predict the 26 men who will be on the Opening Day roster because let s be honest, it s fun to try and predict things. The Phillies have added a handful of impactful veterans since our last try, so despite a few early injuries, here s how we see things shaping up ahead of April 1 s scheduled opener vs the Braves:
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto
Realmuto broke his throwing-hand thumb in a freak accident while blocking a ball from new Phils reliever Jose Alvarado last week, but he and the Phillies are optimistic that it won t cost him his Opening Day roster spot. In fact, it hasn t really even cost him time practicing with his teammates, as he s been doing a lot to prepare for the season with a cast on.
Phillies J.T. Realmuto has fractured thumb, to be re-evaluated in 2 weeks
By The Athletic Staff
7 Comments
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto has a fractured right thumb and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, manager Joe Girardi said Thursday.
The team hopes he can be ready for Opening Day on April 1. Realmuto, 29, signed a five-year, $115.5 million deal in January. The two-time All-Star hit .266 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 47 games last season.
Analyzing the injury
Virginia Zakas, Inside Injuries: Realmuto has been diagnosed with a small fracture to his right thumb. It will be immobilized for a minimum of two weeks, but he won t do much for at least a month. This injury will affect him when hitting more than fielding, although it will still impact his grip on throws. Without a strong hand, his power will be lessened at the plate.