Looking back at the Top 5 Phillies moments from the 2023 season
The Phillies' 2023 season ended with disappointment but featured several exciting moments along the way. Which moments made the cut as the top five of the year?
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The 2023 season was an eventful follow-up to 2022, in which the Philadelphia Phillies represented the National League in the World Series. The Phillies put together a second consecutive solid regular season last year, winning the top Wild Card spot with a 90-72 record, and it was the club's first year in which they won at least 90 games since 2011.
The Phillies provided us with many exhilarating moments throughout their playoff run. Citizens Bank Park lived up to the mayhem-like atmosphere it was known for during the 2022 run to the Fall Classic. The club came up short of winning a championship last year, losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Championship Series.
While the season ending in the NLCS was disappointing, the rest of the year featured many exciting, memorable moments.
Let's take a look at the top five moments of the Phillies' 2023 season.
No. 5: Bryce Harper hits his 300th career home run on Aug. 30
Bryce Harper is arguably the most popular Philadelphia athlete currently. Since he agreed to a mammoth contract with the team five years ago, the right fielder turned first baseman has taken advantage of every opportunity to show how much playing in the city means to him.
BRYCE. HARPER.#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/zy0uCGTa6Q
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 30, 2023
Harper hitting his 300th career home run in a Phillies uniform at Citizens Bank Park is one of the superstar's top moments with the club. The achievement was bittersweet as Philadelphia didn't win the contest against the Los Angeles Angels.
The milestone home run may not have as much of a lasting impact as Harper's homer late in Game 5 of the 2022 NLCS, but it was a special moment to have happened in front of the Phillies faithful.
No. 4: Bryson Stott's postseason grand slam on Oct. 4
At the time of Bryson Stott's grand slam, the Phillies were in a good position to win Game 2 of the Wild Card Series versus the Miami Marlins, thanks to a stellar pitching performance from starter Aaron Nola. The second baseman's bases-clearing blast all but confirmed that Philly would advance to play the Atlanta Braves in the Division Series.
Stott was arguably Philadelphia's most consistent player, both offensively and defensively, last season. He struggled a bit at the plate in September and during the postseason, but he still made contributions down the stretch and in the playoffs, such as this at-bat.
HOLY GRAND SLAM BRYSON STOTT pic.twitter.com/xTdrDcjGDn
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 5, 2023
No. 3: J.T. Realmuto becomes the first Phillie to hit for the cycle in 19 years on June 12
Catcher J.T. Realmuto was responsible for a good portion of Philadelphia's offense in the June 12 contest against the Diamondbacks. The veteran finished 4-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, three runs, and one walk. He had mixed feelings as he was thrilled to hit the cycle, but the Phillies didn't win the contest.
No jinx here. J.T. Realmuto just hit for the cycle. pic.twitter.com/oLpxT8eYBh
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 13, 2023
David Bell was the last player in a Phillies uniform to hit for the cycle. The former infielder and current Cincinnati Reds manager accomplished the feat on June 28, 2004, against the Montreal Expos. The third baseman's triple narrowly missed being a home run. There was fan interference, and the umpires ruled that the triple would stand.
Realmuto became the ninth player in Phillies history to hit for the cycle. He became the 16th catcher to do so in MLB since 1901. The last catcher to achieve the feat was George Kottaras with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011.
No. 2: Phillies' NLDS Game 4 win versus Braves on Oct. 12
Game 4 of the NLDS between the Phillies and Braves last year was perhaps the game of the year for Philadelphia. The game was a low-scoring affair, as neither club could manufacture much offense. Philly starter Ranger Suárez and Atlanta ace Spencer Strider each kept their respective teams in the contest.
However, the difference offensively was two solo home runs by Nick Castellanos and one by Trea Turner, all hit off of Strider. Atlanta came close to potentially changing the outcome of the game in the top of the seventh inning.
Young centerfielder Johan Rojas, who displayed his defensive talents throughout his rookie season for Philadelphia, made a key defensive catch to keep the Phillies in the lead.
JOHAN ROJAS, YOU BEAUTIFUL HUMAN pic.twitter.com/DLWja1CH0K
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 13, 2023
Atlanta's bullpen kept the talented Philadelphia offense from adding to its two-run lead. The Phillies relievers managed to do the same against a Braves team that put up elite offensive numbers during the regular season.
NEXT STOP: NLCS pic.twitter.com/Y1K4yJypXu
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 13, 2023
The Phillies went on to defeat their NL East rival in the NLDS for a second consecutive season. Philadelphia's onslaught of offense and solid pitching was enough to defeat an Atlanta ballclub that entered the series with high expectations to win its second championship in three years.
No. 1: Michael Lorenzen throws a no-hitter on Aug. 9
No-hitters in baseball have lost their uniqueness in sports in recent years. Due to analytics and load management, many managers are now reluctant to leave a starting pitcher in a game to potentially achieve the feat. It has become more common for a starter and the relievers to achieve a combined no-hitter in today's game.
On Aug. 9, recently acquired pitcher Michael Lorenzen was in a position to throw a no-hit game in just his second start in a Phillies uniform. Despite racking up more than 100 pitches, manager Rob Thomson elected to keep the 32-year-old in the contest.
Michael Lorenzen throws the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history. His family's reaction is everything. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9NARDYMwK0
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2023
In front of his family and thousands of Phillies fans in attendance, Lorenzen achieved a rare feat for a pitcher in today's game. He's the first Philadelphia pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Cole Hamels did so on July 25, 2015, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Lorenzen's no-hitter was the first thrown by a Phillies pitcher at Citizens Bank Park since the late Roy Halladay. The former multi-Cy Young Award winner threw multiple no-hitters during the 2010 season. His second was during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. The contest was his first career postseason appearance.
Lorenzen left Phillies fans in amazement following the completion of his rare accomplishment. The no-hitter was the 13th thrown by a single pitcher in the team's history and the 14th in the history of the club.
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