Sometimes the guy you were meant to spend a lifetime with is the one that got away. The Philadelphia Phillies, just like any sports franchise, have experienced that more than a few times. This spring training, a trio of players have made the club deeply regret casting them aside.
3 former Phillies players who are sorely missed this spring training
Austin Hays
Outfielder Austin Hays was supposed to shore up a weak outfield mix when he was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline, but a frightening kidney infection kneecapped his time in Philly. Between stints on the Injured List, Hays only appeared in 22 games, posting an ugly .672 OPS. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski declined to offer a contract to the former All-Star, and Hays latched on with the Cincinnati Reds, where he put up a respectable .768 OPS in 416 trips to the plate.
The 30-year-old would’ve been an ideal fit as a short side platoon partner for Brandon Marsh this winter, but the Chicago White Sox scooped him up on a one-year, $6 million pact. Over 28 spring training plate appearances thus far, Hays has posted a fantastic .997 OPS, proving he still has plenty left in the tank.
Harrison Bader
Harrison Bader became a fan favorite instantly upon being acquired from the Minnesota Twins this past summer, as the 31-year-old continued a breakout campaign at the plate to go alongside his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense. The centerfield position has been a black hole ever since Shane Victorino’s departure back in 2012, but for a few months in 2025, the issue was solved.
Unfortunately, Dombrowski and company seemingly used up their outfield reinforcement budget on reclamation project Adolis GarcÃa, paving the way for the San Francisco Giants to snag Bader on an eminently reasonable two-year, $20.5 million contract this offseason. He’s made good on that deal so far, putting up a tremendous .417/.462/.833 slash line in six spring contests.
The native New Yorker is taking a break from spring training action to star for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, but so far he’s made the Phillies look like fools for letting him walk.
Kody Clemens
Utilityman Kody Clemens came to the Phillies ahead of the 2023 campaign as the lesser-known piece in the Matt Vierling for Gregory Soto swap. The son of the Rocket struggled in parts of three seasons with the Phillies, posting a paltry .220/.265/.394 line in less than 100 contests.
Unable to continue carrying him on the big league roster due to a glut of bench options, the Phils shipped Clemens off to Minnesota in late April, where the 29-year-old found new life as a productive part-timer. Clemens worked to a solid .216/.284/.442 mark across 379 plate appearances in the Twin Cities, while bouncing between first and second base, as well as the outfield and even the pitcher’s mound.
The Texan has carried that strong production into this year’s preseason play, putting up a terrific .937 OPS across 21 spring trips to the plate. Coincidentally enough, the Phillies could use another lefty-swinging bench piece to pair with right-handed hitters Otto Kemp and Edmundo Sosa. Unfortunately for them, Kody Clemens will be making his contributions in a Minnesota Twins uniform.