PHILADELPHIA -- Say what you want about whether the Phillies are “running it back” in 2026, but the infield is the one area in which they are, truly, running it back.
While the outfield will certainly have a different look -- something we explored here -- the Phils plan to roll out the same four starters across the infield for a third straight season. Bryce Harper will be at first base, Bryson Stott at second, Trea Turner at shortstop and Alec Bohm at third, with Edmundo Sosa ready to either spell Stott or Bohm, or to step in if there’s an injury or lack of production.
But just because the players are the same, that doesn’t mean the production will be.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at how each of those players fared in 2025, and how they can improve in ’26.
First base: Bryce Harper
What he did in 2025: Though it may not have been an “elite” campaign, Harper still had a relatively solid 2025 season. Despite a nagging right wrist issue that sidelined him for nearly a month in June, the two-time MVP finished with 27 homers, 32 doubles, 75 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and 3.1 bWAR in 132 games.
That said, Harper’s .487 slugging percentage and .844 OPS were both his lowest since 2016 with the Nationals -- and his .357 OBP was his lowest since 2014.
How 2026 can be better: The simpler answer is patience. Harper still hit the ball just as hard as he always has last season, and his strikeout rate was actually a bit lower than the previous year. The key will be laying off breaking balls out of the zone, then doing damage on hittable pitches.
A fully healthy wrist could go a long way, too.
Second base: Bryson Stott
What he did in 2025: After getting off to a strong start in April, Stott struggled mightily over the next three months. From the start of May through the end of July, Stott slashed just .206/.276/.300. His .576 OPS during that span ranked 145th off 147 players with at least 250 plate appearances.
From August onward, though, Stott hit .310 with a .503 slugging percentage and an .880 OPS. That was 10 points higher than NL MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber’s OPS during that same span.
How 2026 can be better: Consistency. Stott has shown extended flashes offensively, but he’s also gone through lengthy slumps over the past few seasons. There’s no question he’s one of the best defensive second basemen in the Majors, but the Phillies could certainly use the version of Stott from those final two months for an entire season.
Shortstop: Trea Turner
What he did in 2025: Though it was largely overshadowed by Schwarber’s MVP-caliber season, Turner was putting together an MVP-worthy season of his own prior to sustaining a right hamstring injury on Sept. 7. He ultimately won the NL batting title with a .304 average, while finishing the year with 15 homers, 36 stolen bases, 94 runs and an .812 OPS -- his highest in a season since 2021. Turner also had an incredible turnaround defensively, accounting for 17 Outs Above Average (OAA) at shortstop after totaling -9 OAA over the previous two seasons.
How 2026 can be better: More of the same, with perhaps just a bit more power. Prior to last season, the Phillies asked Turner to focus less on home runs and more on getting on base, using his legs and scoring runs. The idea was that if he was on base in front of Schwarber and Harper, he was probably going to end up scoring one way or another. The Phils are hoping for more of the same in 2026, though seeing Turner push for 20-plus homers wouldn’t hurt either.
Third base: Alec Bohm
What he did in 2025: After hitting just .221 with a .526 OPS in March/April, Bohm hit .308 with an .809 OPS the rest of the way. His 11 home runs and 59 RBIs last season were both his fewest since 2021.
How 2026 can be better: Set to become a free agent following the season, Bohm will be looking to put it all together in a contract year. While he's been an above-average hitter each of the past four seasons in terms of OPS+, the Phillies could use some more pop from Bohm’s bat in the middle of the lineup. He’s reached the 20-homer mark just once (2023) and is averaging 16 homers per 162 games.
Meanwhile, Bohm’s performance on defense -- while much improved from a few seasons ago -- could also go a long way toward helping his next contract.