There was a lot of blame to go around after the Philadelphia Phillies were eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS a season ago. Given how talented and highly priced the team is, some fans had had enough with the coaching and certain players’ performances.
With the four-game NLDS exit, the Phillies regressed each year in the playoffs since their 2022 World Series appearance. To the displeasure of some, the organization ran it back in 2025 and decided not to make many notable additions.
It felt as though the Phillies had lost ground among the National League’s contenders heading into the 2025 season. Despite some rough stretches, the Phillies own the third-best record in the majors entering Tuesday.
Phillies' Alec Bohm has earned an apology from doubters
Alec Bohm has had an eventful career with the Phillies. After a troubling past earlier in his career with Phillies fans, Bohm has turned into one of the team’s top hitters and a fan favorite.
Although he was an All-Star Game starter a year ago, Bohm struggled mightily in the final month of the season and into the playoffs. After dealing with a hand injury, the Phillies’ third baseman hit just .170 and struck out 10 times in 47 at-bats during September.
Like most of the Phillies’ offense, Bohm couldn’t get anything going in the playoff series against the Mets. He had just one hit in 13 at-bats and was benched in Game 2 in favor of Edmundo Sosa.
After hearing his name in trade rumors during the offseason, Bohm started the 2025 season like he ended 2024 for the Phillies. The 28-year-old hit .263 in March and .213 in April, prompting fans to call for a change at third base.
Bohm turned his season around in May and has been one of the Phillies’ hottest and most consistent hitters this season. He has raised his batting average to .280 and is in the top six in average, RBI, doubles and hits among qualified NL third basemen.
Trea Turner deserves an apology this season
A few short months into his 11-year, $300 million contract, Phillies fans wanted Trea Turner gone. Turner was hitting .235 through Aug. 3 in 2023 before the famous standing ovation happened.
Phillies fans gave Turner a standing ovation in a home game against the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 4 that season to show support for the struggling star. He went on to hit .333 for the month and .299 in September to finish the season with a .266 batting average, 35 doubles and 26 home runs.
Turner had a much better season in 2024, being named an NL All-Star Game starter and owning a .295 batting average. The 32-year-old has been one of the best hitters in the majors in 2025.
Turner is slashing .295/.347/.453 with an .800 OPS, 17 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and 20 stolen bases through 83 games. His 101 hits are the fourth-most among all hitters in the majors, and he ranks near the top of most major offensive categories among qualified NL shortstops.
His fielding may be an issue at times, but Turner is a large reason why the Phillies are one of the top teams in baseball as the All-Star break rapidly approaches.
Bryson Stott hasn't done enough to warrant an apology
Bryson Stott became a fan favorite early in his Phillies career, thanks in large part to an impressive 2023 season and countless clutch moments at the plate. His walk-up music electrifies the crowd at Citizens Bank Park, but his production has not.
After hitting .280 in 2023, Stott hit .245 a season ago and owns a .241 batting average this year. His power is down, his strikeouts are up and he’s not getting on base as much as he was in the past.
Other than a hot April in which he owned a .314 batting average, Stott has failed to hit over .216 in any other month. Despite early success, Stott was a failed experiment in the leadoff role and now finds himself hitting towards the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup. The 27-year-old has fallen into a platoon situation at second base as of late.
Stott is an incredible fielder, but if he fails to figure things out at the plate, his time with the Phillies could come to a close sooner than expected. Aidan Miller, the organization’s top infield prospect, is waiting in the wings in the minor leagues to claim an infield spot with the big league club.