Phillies outfield power rankings going into the 2024 season

The Philadelphia Phillies are just over two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in Clearwater, Florida. With the start of baseball right around the corner, we have put together power rankings for the 2024 squad, starting with the outfielders likely to break camp with the club.

2023 was a rough year for the Phillies outfield. With injuries to Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper to begin the season, manager Rob Thomson was forced to make difficult decisions when it came to his everyday defensive assignments while trying to keep his best hitters in the lineup.

Thomson was tested early when Bryce Harper returned from offseason Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in early May. With Harper unable to play defense and assuming the role of everyday DH, Kyle Schwarber accepted the role of left fielder to keep both player's bats in the lineup.

While a selfless move on Schwarber's part, the results were less than optimal in the field. Schwarber's lack of range and poor instincts exposed a serious weakness in the outfield as the defensively limited slugger failed to make routine plays, and some of those miscues cost the team a couple of close games.

Last season will go down as a tale of two outfields for the Phillies. When Bryce Harper emerged willing and able to assume first base duties, Thomson shifted Schwarber back to DH, and the Phillies called up defensively gifted outfielder Johan Rojas. The addition of Rojas was a game changer, as the youngster took over the center field role, with Brandon Marsh shifting over to man left.

According to FanGraphs, the 2023 Phillies were ranked 26th in outfield defense. Going into this season, it's reasonable to believe the Phillies will show improvement if the team sticks with an everyday outfield of Marsh, Rojas, and Nick Castellanos.

Without further ado, let's get into the Phillies outfield power rankings for 2024, beginning with a slugger we hope doesn't have to play out there this season

No. 6: Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber in left field in 2024? Most Phillies fans likely hope this scenario doesn't play out this season. If we do see the slugger out in the field, it will only be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation where injuries are rampant and organizational depth is weak.

Still, MLB Network laughably ranked Schwarber the tenth-best left fielder in the game. Obviously, his prodigious power will always be the carrying tool, but if we're combining defense into whatever "metric" MLB Network used for this list, there are 20 other MLB left fielders likely scratching their heads.

While most fans will be interested to see where Schwarber hits next season, Rob Thomson all but ruled out any chance we will see him in the outfield in 2024. If the Phillies learned anything from Schwarber's extended look in left, it's that he best serves the team's needs as the everyday DH. For that reason, Kyle Schwarber ranks No. 6 in the Phillies outfield power rankings.

No. 5: Jake Cave

Jake Cave is the type of solid bench player all good major league teams have at the ready when positional versatility needs arise during the season. The 31-year-old veteran recently spoke with That Ball's Outta Here about the challenges of his role as a bench player for the Phillies and how he stays prepared to fill in wherever the team needs him.

Cave's defensive versatility was on full display in a 2023 season that saw him appear in 46 games in all three outfield positions. Cave saw most of his time in left (35 games) but also appeared in right (11 games) and center (1 game). Cave also saw time at first base, logging 17 appearances during the season.

It's safe to assume that Cave will fill a similar role for the Phillies this season. Depending on how Johan Rojas' bat develops, we'll likely see Cave pinch hit in late-game situations and find his way over to a corner outfield position during the eighth or ninth innings in close games. While Cave provides valuable depth and versatility for the Phillies, an everyday role for the team in 2024 is unlikely. That's why Jake Cave ranks No. 5 in the Phillies outfield power rankings.

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.

No. 3: Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellanos is not known as a great defender, but 2023 saw the Phillies right fielder surprise his detractors by finishing the season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 148 games at the position. How many games will Castellano's errorless streak last? That will be a fun thing to watch this season if he's able to continue his new found excellence with the glove.

Castellanos went into 2023 with a lot to prove in his second season in a Phillies uniform. After signing a five-year, $100 million contract, Castellanos' 2022 was a complete disappointment at the plate as he only managed to hit .263, with 13 home runs and 62 RBI. He was quickly labeled a free agent bust by Phillies fans.

Castellanos more than proved his critics wrong last year, as he was the lone position player for the Phillies to make an All-Star appearance. Hitting .272 with 29 home runs and 106 RBI, he was even more surprising in his ability to handle right field on an everyday basis.

The 31-year-old remains a core veteran on a team expected to contend year after year. While it's unlikely he'll duplicate his 1.000 fielding percentage in 2024, it's a relief to Phillies fans that he has found a position that fits. With Kyle Schwarber a lock to remain at DH, concerns about his glove are now a thing of the past. Let's hope Castellano continues his resurgence in 2024 and earns his No. 3 position in the Phillies outfield power rankings.

No. 1: Johan Rojas

Topping our list of Phillies outfield power rankings is Johan Rojas. An argument can be made that Rojas' promotion to the big league club in August and 57 games as the team's primary center fielder fixed a defensively limited outfield and was one of the key moves that helped the team advance deep into the postseason for the second season in a row.

Rojas was a revelation in center during his brief time with the Phillies last season. Following his promotion, Rojas' solid play allowed the Phillies to shift Brandon Marsh to left, and for the first time all season, the team had an outfield capable of saving runs and keeping baserunners honest.

While Rojas hit a decent .302 in 164 plate appearances with 14 stolen bases, two home runs, and 23 RBI during the regular season, the 23-year-old was dreadful at the plate during the postseason. In 45 at-bats against tough pitching, Rojas hit a meager .093 with only four hits and 15 strikeouts over the three series. This futility at the plate has led to speculation the Phillies may give Rojas more at-bats in Triple-A to begin this season.

The Phillies haven't made any moves to upgrade the outfield this offseason, so there will be pressure on Rojas to establish himself beyond the slick glove in 2024. His development, or lack thereof, will have a domino effect on a Phillies roster with questionable depth at the upper levels of the minor league system. That's why Johan Rojas ranks No. 1 in the Phillies outfield power rankings.