Phillies: Five position players to watch in spring training

With Phillies spring training officially underway, let’s take a look at five position players worth keeping an eye on in Clearwater.

As the Phillies’ position players make their way to Clearwater, Florida, there are some notably obvious absences that most fans had expected to see. “Where’s Bryce? Where’s Manny? Why haven’t we signed them yet?”

While I’m sure Matt Klentak is not finished by any stretch in the free agent market, there’s no point of getting all worked up and excited over guys who have given no indication of where they intend to sign. Sorry, but until the day that pen meets paper, the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed, I’m not getting excited over the prospect of what could be.

However, with the new acquisitions Klentak has brought in, returning starters who have something to prove, and the next generation of Phillies chomping at the bit, there are plenty of players to keep an eye on this spring in Clearwater. The official start to the regular season may still be several weeks away, and the air is still frosty in the Philadelphia area, but baseball is BACK!

A lot of pieces need to fall into place if the Phillies hope to take charge in the NL East, including some pivot players stepping their game up after last year’s disappointing finish.

Honorable Mentions: Adam Haseley (potential #1 prospect), Andrew Romine (where will he play?), Arquimedes Gamboa (youngest at Clearwater), Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura (how the new guys will mesh).