Phillies Spring Training Opens With Youth, Questions, and a Notable Absence
Spring might not be in the air just yet, but in Clearwater, Florida, baseball is back - and that’s close enough. The Philadelphia Phillies officially kicked off spring training this week, with pitchers and catchers reporting on Wednesday and a handful of World Baseball Classic-bound players arriving Thursday. The rest of the squad is expected to report by February 16, but even in these early days, there’s already plenty to unpack.
Let’s start with the good news: Zack Wheeler is back on the mound, and for Phillies fans, that’s a welcome sight. The veteran right-hander is a foundational piece of the rotation, and seeing him healthy and active this early in camp bodes well for a team with October aspirations.
But Wheeler wasn’t the only name drawing attention. There’s a noticeable youth movement brewing in camp, with top prospects Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aidan Miller getting in early work.
The organization is wasting no time with Miller, who’s already beginning reps at third base. That’s a clear indication the Phillies see him as a potential long-term answer at the hot corner - possibly as the heir apparent to Alec Bohm down the road.
It’s early, but the message is clear: the future is arriving, and it’s arriving fast.
Castellanos Era Ends in Controversy
One player who isn’t in camp - and won’t be - is Nick Castellanos. His release marks the end of a rocky tenure in Philadelphia, and the fallout has been nothing short of dramatic.
The writing had been on the wall for a while. Trade talks had stalled, and with no viable partners, the Phillies opted to cut ties. But once the move became official, the floodgates opened.
Castellanos himself shed light on what became known as the “Miami incident,” when he was benched after being pulled from a game and reportedly brought a beer into the dugout. That moment, which might’ve seemed like a one-off at the time, now appears to have been the tipping point in a much deeper rift between Castellanos and the clubhouse.
According to reports, including one from The Athletic, multiple players and staff members took issue with Castellanos’ behavior - particularly after the Miami episode, which reportedly involved a confrontation with manager Rob Thomson. Some players questioned why there wasn’t a harsher response from team leadership, and the incident left a lasting impression.
Behind the scenes, there was a growing sense that Castellanos wasn’t aligned with the team’s culture. While some stopped short of calling him a “bad teammate,” the consensus seemed to be that he wasn’t a “team player” - a subtle but important distinction.
Trust was also an issue. Castellanos reportedly expressed doubts about Thomson and hitting coach Kevin Long, citing their lack of MLB playing experience as a reason for his skepticism.
This wasn’t just a personality clash - it was a fracture that never fully healed. And now that Castellanos is gone, it’s clear the organization is looking to move forward with a tighter, more unified clubhouse.
Orion Kerkering Begins Camp With Minor Setback
Injury-wise, the Phillies have dodged the early spring training bug - mostly. The lone notable issue involves reliever Orion Kerkering, who came into camp nursing a mild hamstring strain. The team expects him to be sidelined for just a week or two, which is a manageable timeline considering the long runway before Opening Day.
Kerkering, just 24, is expected to play a key role in the bullpen this season. Despite a tough ending to last year’s NLDS against the Dodgers - where he took the brunt of the blame after a costly miscue - the organization remains fully behind him.
In fact, they fielded trade interest this winter but didn’t entertain any offers. That’s a clear vote of confidence in Kerkering’s future.
He spent the offseason working through the mental side of that postseason stumble, and all signs point to a more seasoned, focused version of the right-hander returning to the mound once his leg is back to full strength.
Looking Ahead
The Phillies are entering spring training with a mix of veteran stability, youthful upside, and a renewed focus on clubhouse chemistry. The Castellanos saga may have dominated headlines this week, but the bigger story might be what’s taking shape on the field: a team that’s trying to build something sustainable, with stars like Wheeler leading the charge and top prospects like Miller knocking on the door.
The road to October starts in February, and in Clearwater, the Phillies are already laying down the first bricks.