Phillies outfield power rankings going into the 2024 season

No. 4: Cristian Pache

2024 is a make-or-break year for Cristian Pache. The now 24-year-old former Atlanta Braves top prospect has only appeared in 163 games split over four seasons with the Braves, Oakland Athletics, and Philadelphia Phillies due to injuries and his inability to hit consistently at the major league level.

Acquired in a late spring training trade with the Athletics last March, Pache tore his meniscus in April and spent the majority of the 2023 season rehabbing at the minor league level. Another opportunity to establish himself in the majors looked bleak until the Phillies recalled him in August.

Pache still looked over-matched at the plate, and his final stat line of .238, two home runs, and 11 RBI did little to make his case as a major league regular. But Pache showed his versatility, appearing in 44 games at all three outfield positions, logging 24 games in left, 19 in center, and three in right.

Look for Pache to fill a similar role heading into this season. It's important that he stays healthy and shows vast improvement at the plate in 2024. With lingering questions about Rojas' bat at the big league level, he'll certainly be given the chance to slide into the center field role if Rojas needs more time to figure it out.

Pache has no minor league options remaining, so it's nearly certain that he'll break camp with the Phillies in March. To date, the team has yet to make a trade or free agent signing that affects the outfield, so Pache will have another opportunity to showcase the skills that made him a former top prospect. These factors make him No. 4 in the Phillies outfield power rankings.