Familiar Phillies Back, But Spring About Prospects

Phillies leaning into young talent as they aim to return to postseason

Feb. 11, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The Philadelphia Phillies are back for another spring training, with many familiar faces returning to the team. However, this year's camp will be focused on the team's top prospects, as they look to infuse the roster with young talent to help them return to the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Phillies have struggled to integrate young players into their roster in recent years, relying heavily on veteran stars. This spring training will be an opportunity for the team to evaluate their top prospects and determine how they can contribute to the team's success this season.

The details

The Phillies' veteran core, including catcher J.T. Realmuto and outfielder Bryce Harper, are back for another season. However, the team has also brought in several top prospects, including infielder Aidan Miller and outfielder Justin Crawford, who will be given opportunities to earn roster spots during spring training. The team is also excited about the potential of pitcher Andrew Painter, who is expected to have a normal spring training after dealing with restrictions last year.

  • The Phillies held their first official workout of the 2026 season on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • Pitcher Zack Wheeler is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the team believes he will return within the first two months of the regular season.

The players

J.T. Realmuto

The veteran catcher for the Phillies, who has been with the team for the past eight spring trainings.

Aidan Miller

One of the Phillies' top prospects, who will be splitting time between third base and shortstop during spring training.

Justin Crawford

Another top Phillies prospect, who is expected to be the team's starting center fielder this season.

Andrew Painter

A Phillies pitcher who is expected to have a normal spring training after dealing with restrictions last year.

Zack Wheeler

The Phillies' starting pitcher who is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but should return within the first two months of the regular season.

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What they’re saying

“Of course, we feel like we're every bit (of) a contender as anybody else. Obviously, the Dodgers have won two in a row, so they're the team everybody's chasing down. But there's not a team, in my opinion, that has a better chance to beat them than we do. So that's why I'm excited for this season.”

— J.T. Realmuto, Phillies Catcher

“It could. You see some good teams around the league. Maybe they're struggling at some point in the year or this or that, and they bring up a guy and it lights a fire. For whatever reason, it helps. Just having some young guys around, they're very talented.”

— Zack Wheeler, Phillies Pitcher

What’s next

The Phillies will continue to evaluate their top prospects during spring training, with a focus on Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford. The team will also monitor Zack Wheeler's recovery and determine when he can rejoin the rotation.

The takeaway

The Phillies are hoping that an infusion of young talent can help them return to the postseason after a disappointing end to their 2022 campaign. While the team's veteran core remains in place, the focus this spring will be on developing the next generation of Phillies stars.