The Philadelphia Phillies‘ roster for the 2023 season is starting to take shape.
After plenty of offseason signings and trades, the Phillies have reloaded for another playoff run next year.
Coming up two games shy of winning a championship, finding the key pieces that can put you over the top is crucial.
But, not every player on the Phillies roster can be a star.
They need to get production from some complimentary pieces on a nightly basis.
One spot without a clear answer is centerfield.
After trading away Matt Vierling in the Gregory Soto trade, it seems like the Phillies have committed to Brandon Marsh as their new center fielder.
Marsh’s first season with the Phillies was last year when they acquired him from the Los Angeles Angels.
In 41 games with the Phillies, Marsh hit .288 with a .773 OPS, now he must sustain that production over a full season.
THE BRANDON MARSH MOMENT#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/7CTHsKRjeJ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 15, 2022
The issue with Marsh is that he is unplayable against lefties, hitting a .188 against southpaws last year.
If he can hit better against lefties he can be an everyday player.
But, to at least start the season, a platoon seems likely.
Vierling was expected to be the platoon righty opposite of Marsh, so now the Phillies need to find a new one.
One player that could take Vierling’s spot is Johan Rojas, who has yet to make his MLB debut.
He is a right-handed bat that has plenty of speed and range to play centerfield every day.
But, his bat still needs time to develop.
Dombrowski added that they like Daulton Guthrie, too. The Phillies think he can fill in at CF (among other spots in the OF/IF). They also feel like they have CF depth in Johan Rojas and Simon Muzziotti (Dombrowski conceded that Rojas is MLB ready defensively, not offensively)
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) January 7, 2023
Rojas is 22 years old and a part of the Phillies’ 40-man roster, so his time is coming soon.
With a talented lineup all over the field, the Phils just need average production from their centerfielders.
NEXT: 2 Phillies Starters That Will Make Or Break Their Season