5 Phillies named to MLB.com's Top 50 players in the MLB playoffs
All teams in the MLB playoffs have talent, some more than others. The Philadelphia Phillies have talent spread all over the roster that helped them win 90 games and get to the postseason.
While there are talented players all over the league whose teams didn't make the playoffs, those lucky enough to play October baseball will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the biggest stage. Every postseason sees a handful of legacy-defining moments from established superstar players and breakout moments from budding stars.
Will Leitch of MLB.com released his rankings of the Top 50 players in the MLB playoffs and included five Phillies in his list, plus a couple of players who were close but didn't make the cut.
We'll start with the pair of Phillies who didn't make the Top 50 but could have, or should have, depending on who you ask. These players at least received an honorable mention.
Bryson Stott, 2B
Bryson Stott had himself some sophomore season. The former first-round pick slashed .280/.329/.419 with 15 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 151 games. He was one of the more consistent performers early in the season, while some of the experienced players were getting themselves sorted out, and earned all 3.9 points of his team-leading fWAR.
Trea Turner, SS
One of the most surprising stories of the season was the dismal performance of Trea Turner in the first year of his big contract. Luckily for the Phillies, the fans stood (literally) behind the veteran who turned things around. After hitting .317 with a 1.000 OPS over the season's final two months, he looks poised to be a difference-maker in October.
Now, counting down, here are the five Phillies Leitch puts in his Top 50 this postseason.
No. 49: Kyle Schwarber, LF/DH
Kyle Schwarber barely sneaks onto the list, but maybe that's because what he has done this year is so unique nobody really knows how to evaluate his season. Not the prototypical leadoff hitter, Schwarber confounded the stats nerds with an atrocious .197 batting average but swatted a career-high 47 home runs and walked 126 times, also a career-high, putting together a .343 OBP and an .817 OPS.
No. 47: Aaron Nola, SP
Despite a rollercoaster of a season, Aaron Nola makes the list with his Phillies career possibly ending. He finished the regular season with a 12-9 record, a 4.46 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He was victimized by the long ball, giving up 32 round-trippers in 32 starts. Hopefully, as the Phillies starter for Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, Nola can give fans a positive memory if this is indeed his last hurrah in the City of Brotherly Love.
No. 29: J.T. Realmuto, C
Despite not being able to duplicate his stellar 2022 season, J.T. Realmuto can still be an impact player on both sides of the ball, especially in the big moments. As Leitch says, "... you can count on him to make some sort of heads-up play that wins them a game."
No. 26: Zack Wheeler, SP
The staff ace Zack Wheeler took the ball in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series and showed why he belongs on the list of the Top 50 players in the MLB playoffs. He dominated the Marlins with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, scattering five hits and only giving up a single run. After that performance, he may deserve to move up this list.
No. 6: Bryce Harper, 1B
After his miraculously quick return from elbow surgery, it took Bryce Harper a while to look like himself. Now that he's back to being Bryce, opposing pitchers should watch out. The talented 30-year-old is looking to cement his Phillies legacy after coming up short of the goal last season despite his big playoff performance. All he needs is a World Series ring, and you can bet he'll do everything he can to make it happen.
Will any of the Phillies who made the list give us a moment to remember this fall? Let's hope so.