The Philadelphia Phillies might just be on the brink of something special this season. Just 11 games in, they're already making waves in the National League East, holding down the top spot.
With an 8-3 record, they boast the third best in the National League, barely ahead of the New York Mets. It's early days, sure, but the signs are there for yet another run at the division crown, possibly setting the stage for some October magic.
For fans who've watched the Phillies struggle with the same issue year after year, there's reason to believe things have changed. The team's approach at the plate seems to have finally evolved. It's not just wishful thinking—there's data to back it up.
The improvement in the Phillies' discipline and chase rate hasn't slipped by Phillies President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski. Following an Opening Day laden with 19 strikeouts, the fans probably had that sinking feeling: here we go again, swinging wildly at pitches they had no business going after.
But since that shadow game, the turnaround has been impressive. The Phillies have morphed from one of the worst in the league at holding back on errant pitches to the very best.
Their chase rate sits at just 25 percent, a league-leading stat that shows a five-point improvement from last year. It's resulted in only 91 strikeouts—seventh lowest in MLB—while drawing 51 walks, putting them in a tie for fifth in the league.
Dombrowski shared his insights on Gregg Murphy's Phillies pregame radio show, as noted by John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia, saying, "There has been significant strides made on not chasing pitches, not striking out as much, we are walking a lot. It's a very good sign and we did it in spring training.
Hopefully, we can continue to do that. We've put an emphasis on it.
Our players have put an emphasis on it. If we swing at strikes, we will do damage."
Words that'll ring like music to any Phillies fan's ears.
A key player in this transformation is Nick Castellanos. Known over the years for his tendency to chase pitches outside the zone, especially those pesky down-and-away sliders, Castellanos typically led the team's everyday starters in chase rate.
In 2023, his chase rate ballooned to 41 percent. Fast forward to now, and what a difference—he's chasing at just 28.8 percent, third best among regulars.
He's also managed to cut his strikeout rate down to a team-low 9.3 percent and matches it with a career-high 9.3 percent walk rate.
This could well be the last hurrah for this group of Phillies. If they're aiming for another division title and, more importantly, a shot at a World Series trophy, they must ensure that past problems stay in the past.
It's all about keeping that new-found discipline and focus. If April's opening act is anything to go by, the Phillies might just be writing the first chapter of a compelling season.
