Phillies Nuggets: Opening Day 26-man roster projection 1.0

26 players will be on the roster for the Phillies when they welcome the Texas Rangers to Citizens Bank Park for Opening Day on March 26. 

Barring injury, we know who the overwhelming majority of them will be, though at least a few spots are open. Here's our first projection of what the original 26-man roster will look like, and some analysis when needed. 

Catchers (2): J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchán

First Base (1): Bryce Harper

Second Base (2): Bryson Stott, Edmundo Sosa

Shortstop (1): Trea Turner 

Third Base (1): Alec Bohm

LF (2): Brandon Marsh, Otto Kemp 

• The Phillies have spent much of this offseason heaping praise on Kemp. Assuming they really are as high on the 26-year-old as they say, he'll open the season as Brandon's Marsh's platoon partner. Kemp posted a .786 OPS in 74 plate appearances against lefties a year ago, which would seem to make him an ideal platoon partner with Marsh, who mashes right-handed pitching. 

CF (2): Justin Crawford, Pedro León

• Crawford is going to get extended runway early in 2026. Still, you need at least one other guy capable of playing center field. Marsh obviously can do that, though he's much better in left field. The Phillies claimed León off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles in November. He appeared in seven games for the Houston Astros in 2024, but did hit 24 home runs and 90 RBIs are Triple-A Sugar Land that same year. He can play all three outfield spots, so we're going to project that the 27-year-old is the fifth outfielder to open the season. 

• The good news for the Phillies in trying to determine their fifth outfielder is they have some flexibility. León has two remaining option years. Johan Rojas can still be optioned in 2026. Bryan De La Cruz is a right-handed hitting outfielder with MLB experience who is going to be in camp as a non-roster invitee, and he could be a consideration if he builds off of the .888 OPS he posted in the Dominican Winter League. Gabriel Rincones Jr. is a left-handed hitter who mashes righties that figures to play a role at some point in 2026, particularly if Adolis García doesn't prove to be an everyday option in right field. 

RF (1): Adolis Garcia

DH (1): Kyle Schwarber 

SP (5): Cristopher Sánchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter 

• By all accounts, Zack Wheeler is making strong progress as he attempts to return from the thoracic outlet decompression surgery he had on Sept. 23. That surgery, though, came with a recovery timeline of six to eight months. Being ready to go the first time through the rotation would mean Wheeler is at the very front of that timeline. He may ultimately hit that mark, but whether there's some sort of setback or the Phillies just pace Wheeler — who is entering his age-36 season — there would seem to be a real chance he's not in the first iteration of Rob Thomson's starting rotation. 

• The Phillies are hopeful that Andrew Painter — in his second season back from Tommy John surgery — regains some of his control and starts to look like the frontline starter he projected to be prior to the procedure. If the 22-year-old looks ready, he'll probably be in the rotation to open the season, even if Wheeler is healthy. 

• There is, of course, a scenario here where the Phillies end up thin on depth. What if Wheeler isn't ready to start the season and Painter doesn't earn a job in the rotation? That possibility existing might make it wise to add another rotation option, such as Walker Buehler. 

RP (8): Jhoan Duran, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Zach Pop, Zack McCambley, Jonathan Bowlan

• Duran, Alvarado, Keller, Kerkering and Banks are all locks, assuming health. McCambley is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so the Phillies have to keep him on the MLB roster or offer him back to the Miami Marlins. Bowlan, acquired in the Matt Strahm trade, is pretty certain to be in the Opening Day bullpen because he's out of options. 

• Pop is interesting because he signed a split deal, which The Associated Press reported will pay him $900,000 if he's in the majors, but only $250,000 in the minors. He's out of options, though, so he can't just be optioned to Triple-A if he doesn't make the team. Essentially, the 29-year-old is competing for a roster spot in Spring Training. He's the favorite for the eighth spot in the bullpen, but the Phillies could move on from him pretty easily if things don't work out. 

• If both Wheeler and Painter are in the Opening Day starting rotation, Walker will likely occupy the eighth spot in the bullpen. Tim Mayza and Génesis Cabrera are two non-roster invitees worth keeping an eye on. Guys like Seth Johnson, Kyle Backhus, Max Lazar, Nolan Hoffman and Chase Shugart would have to overwhelm in Grapefruit League play considering they all still have minor-league options remaining. 

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