Phillies: Five things to look forward to next season

Outfielders

How the Phillies outfield plays out in 2018 will be quite interesting. At first glance the opening day roster projects to have (if healthy) Altherr, Odubel Herrera, and Nick Williams as the everyday outfielders. Each has enough athleticism to play the outfield and could be an above-average set of defenders.

Health is the major issue for Altherr, who’s played 144 games over the past two seasons. He’s shown immense potential and carried the offense this summer prior to a hamstring injury shutting him down.

Herrera’s struggles are more mental than anything, which has made him an outcast among certain fans. Boneheadedness on the base pads and in the field has isolated him in conversations centered around the future. If he can mentally focus and hit the way he was during the summer the Phillies have a perennial All-star center fielder.

Flying under the radar with Hoskins in town is Nick Williams, the first of the major offensive prospects to arrive this season. He’s collected seven home runs while maintaining a .288 average through 190 plate appearances, an impressive feat for a player many wrote off last year in the minors.

Beyond those three, the team must find answers for Roman Quinn, Cam Perkins, and strikeout machine Dylan Cozens. Quinn may never be healthy enough to stay in the majors, Perkins has proven to be nothing more than a body off the bench, and Cozens looks like the next Darin Ruf.

Approaching the majors are Carlos Tocci and Adam Haseley, Philadelphia’s first round pick from the June draft. If Altherr and Quinn aren’t healthy Tocci may get an opportunity next season, but Haseley will be close behind.

Further down the depth chart will be first round picks Mickey Moniak and Cornelius Randolph. However, they’re ways away from being an impact at the major league level.