Phillies

Phillies Mailbag: Opportunity for Young Guys, Breakout Player of 2025

By Luke Arcaini

Published: Feb 25th, 2025 · 9:13 AM EST

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Phillies baseball is back. We got robbed of a Cristopher Sanchez vs. Paul Skenes matchup Monday down in Clearwater because of a monsoon, but the vibes are still high as Opening Day is just 30 days away.

Just a reminder that I send out my mailbag tweet every Monday morning. If you want to be featured or have any questions regarding the games or the team in general, reply under the tweet (@ArcainiLuke) and I’ll make sure to answer it.

Mailbag Monday!

We’ve finally got some live action Phillies baseball the last two days. Drop me any questions below about those games or the team in general and I’ll answer them for @CrossingBroad! pic.twitter.com/MQpAfoleH0

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) February 24, 2025

Alright, let’s jump into some questions.

What are your thoughts on Rincones Jr? Is he a long-term solution to the corner outfield spots? (@GPhilly120)

I think Gabriel Rincones Jr, has the chance to be a piece to this team. Maybe it’s not this year. He’s 23 and hasn’t played in Triple-A yet. But he slugged .487 with Reading last year and hit .273 in the Arizona Fall League a few months back. He’s primarily played right field throughout the minors, but has dabbled in left field for 43 games across the last two seasons. Rincones Jr, to me, feels like a guy that wouldn’t get a true “shot” until 2026, but he’s also a candidate if somebody in the pros gets hurt. Say a guy like Brandon Marsh goes down. What’s the hurt of trying Rincones out there and seeing what you’ve got?

I’d love to see him in the majors this year at some point. He’s got serious pop.

Where are the weak spots in the roster and is there much they can do to fix them? (@Citizendivided)

The starting rotation is phenomenal. I’d still love one more reliever that I’m confident in. Rob Thomson said the other day that Joe Ross has impressed during camp, and we should see Ross at some point this week. Maybe that reliever addition is internal, maybe it’s external. I’d still love one more.

The Phillies have a good lineup. The weak spots in the Phillies roster aren’t holes, they’re elite players on big contracts not playing to the level they should.

What should be the lineup in your opinion? (@JonesyAustin25)

I’ve always been pro-Schwarber in the leadoff spot, but I’m all for trying Trea there this year, and that’s what I’d prefer right now. I’ll give you two. One with Schwarber 1, and one with Trea 1.

Lineup with Schwarber leadoff:

• Schwarber DH
• Turner SS
• Harper 1B
• Bohm 3B
• Castellanos RF
• Stott 2B
• Realmuto C
• Kepler LF
• Marsh CF

Lineup with Trea leadoff (my preferred):

• Turner SS
• Harper 1B
• Bohm 3B
• Schwarber DH
• Castellanos RF
• Stott 2B
• Realmuto C
• Kepler LF
• Marsh CF

What’s going to happen to Taijuan Walker? Is he now a bullpen piece? What role do you see him playing? (@Flyers2601)

Thomson said that Taijuan Walker is in incredible shape and he looks comfortable on the mound again. I tweeted about a month ago that this feels like a Taijuan bounceback year, and I’m sticking to that.

I think he’ll have the same role as Joe Ross, a swingman. Example: Ranger lasts 3 innings, Joe Ross threw the day prior, that’s a Taijuan Walker spot. I think he takes that last bullpen spot unless somebody else runs away with it.

I’m intrigued to see the Phillies’ Japanese import… any word on when we will see him in Grapefruit League action? Also feel as though if he succeeds, it will open the door to other Japanese players to Philadelphia. (@TigroTony)

I believe Thomson mentioned on Sunday that Koyo Aoyagi will pitch at some point this week.

I’m excited too! He’s got a funky delivery. It’s something we’ve never really seen in the Phillies organization before. I’m extremely excited to watch him pitch this spring. Everything out of camp so far seems like he’s a must-watch talent.

Who’s your breakout player this year? (@ConnorJ_Delaney)

Somebody we already talked about. Gabriel Rincones Jr. I was high on him last spring, over the fall, and coming into the camp before his home run. I think he’s got the shot to really turn some heads in AAA this season and maybe even find his way to Citizens Bank Park.

The tools are there. Now, he just has to stay healthy.

Moises Chace is probably my pitching breakout, although Thomson said the other day Chace is a little behind in camp. He’s got nasty stuff and could be a sweet piece in this Phillies bullpen at some point this season.