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Can the Philadelphia Phillies be MLB’s best hitting team?

By Nick Butler |
Nov 1, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates with center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in game three of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates with center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in game three of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Last offseason, Dave Dombrowski, general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, sacrificed defense for offense by signing Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, two of the worst-rated defensive players that were available in the free agent market but were definitely two of the best hitters available. However, at the trade deadline and this offseason, Dombrowski got some big pieces who can hit but also play defense.

Looking at Edmundo Sosa, Brandon Marsh, Trea Turner and Josh Harrison, these four adds really help the defensive side of the ball and also give Phillies manager Rob Thomson options for not only days off for his everyday players, but defensive closers in tight games when you need a great defensive play.

Can the Philadelphia Phillies be MLB’s best hitting team?

Currently looking at the lineup, it is going to be what is known as scary hours when playing this team. The lineup (shown below with last year’s numbers) should give opposing teams not only issues for pitching matchups, but the opposing pitchers nightmares before and after games.

Kyle Schwarber (LH) — .218 batting average, 46 HR, 94 RBI, 100 R

Trea Turner (RH) — .298 batting average, 21 HR, 100 RBI, 101 R

Bryce Harper (LH) — .286 batting average, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 63 R

Rhys Hoskins (RH) — .246 batting average, 30 HR, 79 RBI, 81 R

J.T. Realmuto (RH) — .276 batting average, 22 HR, 84 RBI, 75 R

Nick Castellanos (RH) — .263 batting average, 13 HR, 62 RBI, 56 R

Alec Bohm (RH) — .280 batting average, 13 HR, 72 RBI, 79 R

Bryson Stott (LH) — .234 batting average, 10 HR, 49 RBI, 58 R

Brandon Marsh (LH) — .245 batting average, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 49 R

We can’t fail to mention about the number of stolen bases had for this team and the addition of Trea Turner. With the new bigger bases, it will make it easier for teams to be able to steal bases. Put that alongside the new shift rules as well, stolen bases will become a much more common commodity for teams.

Speaking on the shift rule, it makes the hitting side of things much easier for pure contact hitters. Having only two players on each side of second base changes things. Imagine this rule change when the 2008 Phillies were playing with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, etc. There are players who would have just be killers every night with no shift. Turner is going to be one of those of those players. Turner is a pure hitter who can put the ball wherever he wants it to go. Add that with Realmuto, Bohm, Harper, Hoskins and the rest of the lineup, it’s going to be dangerous.

Next. Can the Phillies redeem the city of Philadelphia?. dark

Just looking at this team on paper could make any manager have shivers down their spine. There’s not much time left for talking about what ifs and what is potentially possible. Soon it is going to be perform or step off of the stage. There will be Bedlam at the Bank consistently and Philly is going to be rocking. Let’s get the first pitch thrown already!

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