Trea Turner is one of seven Phillies considered as MLB's 'Top 100' players.
Thursday marks exactly five weeks until the Philadelphia Phillies kick off their 2023 season. There will be plenty of returning players seeking to repeat as National League champions and take the extra step of securing the franchise's third-ever World Series championship. Meanwhile, some new faces will don red pinstripes for the first time, including star shortstop Trea Turner.
Before spring training games begin this weekend, MLB Network is unveiling its "Top 100 Players Right Now" list — and Turner and other Phillies stars are well represented. Turner ranks 11th, followed by Bryce Harper (17), J.T. Realmuto (29), Zack Wheeler (35), Kyle Schwarber (44), Aaron Nola (79) and Rhys Hoskins (94).
Compared to last year's Top 100 rankings, Turner, Realmuto and Schwarber climbed two, 25 and 36 spots respectively. Meanwhile, Harper and Wheeler fell 12 and 10 spots, respectively. Harper's steep fall can be attributed to him likely to miss a significant portion of the first half of the season following offseason surgery.
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner pic.twitter.com/IZ2eoplNzR
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) February 18, 2023
Phillies newcomers on MLB Network's rankings are Nola and Hoskins. Coincidentally, both account for half of the team's four players set to reach free agency after the 2023 season, notes NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman — joining reliever Craig Kimbrel and infielder Josh Harrison.
MLB Network will reveal the top 10 players on its list on Thursday. However, it seems no Phillies will be represented since all of their stars are accounted for at the No. 11 spot and lower. Still, the franchise having seven players ranked among the top 100 currently in Major League Baseball is an impressive feat.
And, if outfielder Nick Castellanos has a bounce-back year as everyone is anticipating, expect him to make MLB Network's list ahead of the 2024 season.