As most of you get to know who I am, you’ll come to learn that I love making lists.  So much so, that I even found a way to work it into my podcast, The Wolves of Broad Street, with The Philly Phive.  I figured it would be a fun twist to start writing about these lists that just pop into my head from time to time.  It’s important to note that we make these lists in no particular order.  Ryan, my cohost on the show, and I hope to take turns and make this is a regular occurrence.

Here is the first:  Top 5 Phillies Who Need To Step Up for a Successful Season. 

1. Bryce Harper

Starting out with the obvious is something that happens often on our show. The haymakers come later, so don’t click off just yet.  Bryce Harper has been decent for the Phillies in his two years with the team, but he hasn’t popped off like everyone wishes he would. This is the year to prove the naysayers wrong.  To all those saying, “The Phillies paid way too much for a .250 BA,” sit back and watch the man have an MVP caliber season.  Here’s what Bryce Harper needs to do in order for the Phillies to have a successful year: .280+ BA, .420 OBP (same as last year), 35+ HRs, 110+ RBIs.  These numbers get players into the MVP conversation, and that’s the kind of season the Phillies will need out of their star player this year. 

2. Rhys Hoskins

Rhys Hoskins is now a veteran in the MLB.  In order for the Phillies to have a successful season, Hoskins must be better than he has been in the last two years.  He’s got one of the best eyes in the league as one of his strengths, seeing more pitches than most players did last season.  That talent should be put to better use this season.  He has to take better swings, and he has to connect with more of his pitches. It was far too often that Hoskins was letting good pitches go in the hopes of getting walked. Here’s what Rhys needs to do in order for the Phillies to have a successful year:  .275+ BA, .400+ OBP, 25+ HRs, 90+ RBIs. 

3. Scott Kingery

Scotty Jetpax has to be better in all facets of his game. Simply put. He has not lived up to is contract’s standards in the slightest.  His only asset thus far has been the ability to play multiple positions.  There’s not much else to be said.  Here’s the bare minimum that the Phillies need from Scott Kingery this season:  .260+ BA, .400+ OBP, 13+ HRs, and retain the ability to be comfortable at all positions defensively. I would also like to see more stolen bases out of him, but that’s not entirely up to him all the time. 

4. Adam Haseley

Adam “The Local Guy” Haseley had a decent season this past year. (I know Haseley isn’t a local guy. “The Local Guy” stems from a mishap Ryan Conway had on our show, and he will remain as such.) Haseley put up respectable numbers at the plate, .280 BA, .380 OBP, 13 RBIs, and was phenomenal in the outfield. Barring any blockbuster free-agent signings out of Dombrowski (You up, Jackie Bradley Jr.?), he should be a starter this year.  He’ll need to put up those same exact numbers this year or better. 

5. Archie Bradley Jr.

As the Phillies’ biggest signing this offseason not named JT Realmuto, Bradley has the spotlight on him. I am merely singling Archie out here because he is the face of the bullpen as of now.  I don’t need to emphasize how gut-wrenching the bullpen was last season, so I will leave it at this for this season: THE SEASON LIVES AND DIES ON ACCOUNT OF THIS BULLPEN.  Bradley is a great signing, and he needs to be the guy to seal the deal in games for this franchise. The starters will do their jobs, everyone knows that. Nola, Wheeler, and Eflin were all trustworthy last season, and give us no reason to say otherwise this season. In addition, I think Dombrowski still has something up his sleeve to add to the rotation. Maybe a James Paxton?  Anyways, Bradley, along with the rest of the bullpen, needs to be reliable this season if the Phillies are going to get anywhere. 

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Mandatory Credit: Denis Kennedy (@dk__create)