With Spring Training fast approaching, MLB.com will take a look at a different aspect of this year's Phillies squad each day this week. The final topic: Spring Training is here.
PHILADELPHIA -- Pete Mackanin opens his second Spring Training as Phillies manager this week at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
Expectations will be a little higher than his first.
The Phillies won 71 games in 2016, but Mackanin believes they have the ability to be a .500 team this year. If that is not entirely realistic, they at least should be a few games better than this past season. Philadelphia finished last in baseball in scoring last season, so the offense will need to improve considerably
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:: Spring Training 2017 preview ::
Regardless, this should be another interesting year, because the Phillies want to see more progress from their young players. Phillies fans will have the opportunity to see many of their top prospects early in the Grapefruit League schedule.
Here is a look at what's on tap this spring:
Pitchers and catchers report: Tuesday.
First full-squad workout: Friday.
First Spring Training game: Feb. 24 @ Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET.
First home Spring Training game: Feb. 25 vs. Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET.
New faces: LF Howie Kendrick, RF Michael Saunders, RHPs Clay Buchholz, Joaquin Benoit and Pat Neshek.
Interesting non-roster invitees: LHP Sean Burnett, catchers Ryan Hanigan and John Holaday, OFs Chris Coghlan and Daniel Nava.
Prospects to watch: RHPs Drew Anderson, Mark Appel, Victor Arano, Ben Lively, Ricardo Pinto, Nick Pivetta and Alberto Tirado, LHP Elniery Garcia, catchers Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp, 1B Rhys Hoskins and Brock Stassi, 2B Scott Kingery and Jesmuel Valentin, SS J.P. Crawford, OFs Dylan Cozens, Roman Quinn, Cameron Perkins, Andrew Pullin and Nick Williams.