Heading into next season, the Philadelphia Phillies have a few players who could be on the bubble in terms of securing a roster spot on the major league roster for 2024.
Whether they just had a sub-par season in 2023 or just never really got the chance to shine this past year, they're definitely worth giving a shot in 2024. The Phillies need to see what these players can really do if given the right environment and opportunity to show their worth.
Here are three Phillies players who may be on the roster bubble but should be given a fair chance to make the 2024 team.
Kody Clemens
During Spring Training in 2023, Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins went down with a season-ending injury with a torn ACL on a fielding play against the Detroit Tigers. As a result, they desperately needed an adequate replacement at first base for the start of the season. They initially tried out Darick Hall in the spot, but Hall would also end up getting injured, suffering a thumb sprain.
As a result, Kody Clemens got his chance when he was called up from the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to replace Hall on the roster. Clemens would go on to stick with the big league club up until the first week of July. He posted decent production numbers with a .230 batting average, 15 runs scored, seven doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI in 47 games played.
When the Phillies decided to move Bryce Harper to first base permanently, there was no longer room for Clemens on the roster, and he was subsequently sent back to the minors on July 2.
From there, Clemens would go on a tear right to the end of the season in Triple-A. He finished the year with the IronPigs batting .256 with a career-high .937 OPS, 51 runs scored, 10 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 52 RBI and seven stolen bases in just 62 games.
Yeah we’re changing Kody’s name to “Kody Dingers”… sorry Kody pic.twitter.com/RpeiBWHDj8
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) August 11, 2023
With the ability to play around the diamond in the infield, Clemens definitely deserves another look next season at the big league level to see what he can accomplish as one of the ballclub’s utility players, along with being a potential power bat off the bench for the Phillies.