PHILADELPHIA -- A week after the Phillies’ 2025 season ended at Dodger Stadium, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke about the future at Citizens Bank Park.
Who’s coming back?
Who’s not?
Who might be the new faces on the roster?
Dombrowski mentioned a few prospects with the potential to help, including right-hander Andrew Painter, infielder Aidan Miller and outfielders Justin Crawford and Gabriel Rincones Jr. There are high expectations for Painter, of course. He is the organization’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 16 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He could open the season in the Phillies’ rotation, especially if Zack Wheeler isn’t ready to return following thoracic outlet surgery in September.
But Crawford’s spot on the Opening Day roster might be more secure than Painter’s.
Nick Castellanos will not be back in 2026. If he is not traded, he will be released. Max Kepler will not be back either. They accounted for 1,027 of 1,939 plate appearances (53%) by Phillies outfielders in 2025.
If free agent Harrison Bader (189 plate appearances) goes elsewhere, the Phillies will need to make up 62.7% of their plate appearances by outfielders.
Expect Crawford (Phillies No. 3 prospect) to pick up a substantial chunk of those at-bats, with Brandon Marsh, Otto Kemp, Weston Wilson, Johan Rojas, Pedro León and Rincones the only other outfielders on the 40-man roster.
(We’re not counting Kyle Schwarber, who can tackle left field for a day or two if needed.)
Crawford, 21, has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. He batted .334 with 23 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 46 stolen bases and an .863 OPS this season with Lehigh Valley. He was likely to be promoted to the big leagues in the summer until the Phillies got Bader at the July 31 Trade Deadline.
“I really believe that he could have played for us last year at some point,” Dombrowski said this month at the Winter Meetings.
Crawford could play every day in left field in 2026 if Bader returns. He could play every day in center field if Bader does not.
Some scouts believe Crawford is better suited in left than center. Some wonder if Crawford’s propensity to hit the ball into the ground will work as well in the big leagues.
The Phillies are going to find out.
They’re not looking for Crawford to be a savior. They can hit him ninth and let him learn on the job.
They’re going to be patient.
“I always think when you bring a young guy up, close your eyes and let them play,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said at the Winter Meetings. “No matter what happens, he gets two, three months, whatever time limit you want to give him, and don't even talk. Just let him go.
“I think the guys that we have at the upper level of our system are performers and eventually they're going to perform, even if they get off to a slow start. That's why I say you've just got to close your eyes and let them play and leave them alone and let them work themselves out of it. These are the type of guys that can do that. They have the makeup. I think they can handle it mentally and emotionally. Philly is a tough place to play.”
And that’s where Crawford almost certainly will be on Opening Day on March 26: Citizens Bank Park, playing in left or center against the Rangers.