The start of the regular season has arrived, and there are Philadelphia Phillies who can elevate their game this season. These players will be having a breakout season this year. Additionally, they will play a role in the team’s overall success. In most seasons, at least one player on a team has a breakout season. Sometimes, this is more predictable than others. It is very much a possibility that a player comes entirely out of nowhere and has a good season. The Phillies saw that with Jeff Hoffman emerging as an essential player in the bullpen last season. It also helps to have a somewhat deep roster like the Phillies do to a certain extent.
Phillies Who Can Elevate Their Game
Alec Bohm
In 2023, Alec Bohm had a .274/.327/.437 line with 20 home runs and 97 RBI. Bohm also had a 108 OPS+ and 153 hits last season. This season, Bohm will take his game to the next level. If Bohm hits in the cleanup spot for most of the regular season, like he did during the postseason, a 30 home run and 100 RBI year is not out of the realm of possibility. On defense, Bohm has improved with the help of Phillies infield coach Bobby Dickerson. It would not be surprising to see Bohm as a Gold Glove candidate at third base this season. If not already among the best at the position, Bohm will be ranked as one of the best by the end of the 2024 season.
Brandon Marsh
Another Gold Glove caliber player, Brandon Marsh, will try to follow a career year at the plate by taking that even further. Last season, Marsh had a .277/.372/.458 line with 12 home runs and 60 RBI. Both the home run and RBI totals were a career-best for Marsh. In addition, Marsh had 10 stolen bases last season, which matched a career best. Another career best set last season by Marsh was a 127 OPS+, 3.5 oWAR, and 112 hits. Even with Whit Merrifield on the team, Marsh will be an everyday player after being in a platoon last season. This will help Marsh elevate his game to the next level and solidify himself as an everyday player.
Cristopher Sánchez
One Phillies starter in line for a breakout season is Cristopher Sánchez, who is now in the full-time rotation. This comes after Sánchez entered the rotation during the second half of last year, making a postseason start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. Last season, in 19 appearances, including 18 starts, Sánchez had a 3-5 record with a 3.44 ERA along with a 125 ERA+ and 96 strikeouts. During the offseason, Sánchez has added a cutter, which gives him another pitch to challenge batters. Sánchez enters the 2024 season as the Phillies fourth starter. Even when Taijuan Walker comes back from injury, Sánchez should remain in the fourth spot in the rotation.
Bryson Stott
Bryson Stott is a Gold Glove candidate like other players on this list. After being a finalist at second base last season, Stott is a contender for the gold glove this year. At the plate last season, Stott had a .280/.329/.419 line with 15 home runs and 62 RBI. The 2023 season also saw Stott record 31 stolen bases, ranking seventh in the NL. Stott also had a 104 OPS+ last season and 164 hits. In addition, Stott had a career-best 3.7 oWAR and a career-best 1.1 dWAR the previous season. The 2024 season will see Stott have a breakout year and elevate his game to another level. Stott and the other players on this list will be significant contributors for the Phillies this season.
Main Photo Credits: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
