Phillies heading into 2024 hungrier than ever to win the World Series

After making the World Series in 2022 as the last Wild Card in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies had big expectations last season. They came up short in returning to the Fall Classic as they lost in the National League Championship Series.

Suffice it to say, Philadelphia will have even more urgency to win a championship this year for the first time in the franchise's history since 2008. The club has a mix of veterans and young players who are ready to win a World Series.

At a recent media availability, manager Rob Thomson and starting pitcher Aaron Nola commented on the Phillies' goal of bringing a championship back to the city of Philadelphia in 2024. The skipper mentioned how the club has had success in recent years but has been unable to win the World Series.

"We've won more playoff games than anyone over the last two years," Thomson said. "But we haven't won the big one. I think our players will be really motivated to come in here and get this thing done. That's probably the biggest thing I am excited about."

Nola, who represents the club's main move this offseason following the Phillies agreeing on a new contract with him back in November, reiterated Thomson's thoughts.

"When you get a taste of the World Series, and for a lot of us guys in 2022 the playoffs especially, and you don't win it, you get back and you're hungrier to get back there," Nola said. "We came up short, and I think it makes us even more hungry this coming year."

After finishing with a 90-win regular season in 2023, the team's first year since 2011 of winning a minimum of 90 or more games, expectations of returning to the Fall Classic were high. However, the Arizona Diamondbacks stymied the Phillies offense in Games 6 and 7 during the NLCS.

Philadelphia will aim to make its third consecutive deep playoff run in 2024. However, the franchise knows it needs to fulfill the goal of winning a World Series over the next couple of years. If they don't, the current team will be remembered as one of the most talented clubs in Philadelphia sports history that underachieved.

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