Phillies Roster: Who’s taking the final bench seat?

Last year, the Philadelphia Phillies bet on Austin Hays, hoping he’d be the guy from the right-side of the plate that could mash lefties in October. Obviously, that plan turned out to be a total bust.

Injuries derailed Austin Hays. A kidney infection took him out of the lineup completely and by the time the Phillies needed him most, Hays wasn’t even starting in NLDS Game 4 against lefty Jose Quintana and the New York Mets.

It literally could not get any worse.

The Phillies responded by non-tendering Hays, who ended up landing in Cincinnati over the winter on a one-year, $5 million contract.

Austin Hays was a disaster in Philly last year and now he’s out to prove himself in Cincinnati

The Phillies responded by signing Max Kepler to be their new everyday left fielder. But there’s a big question looming heading into spring training:

If Max Kepler struggles against left-handed pitching, who fills that gap?

That’s the number one question for me heading into Spring Training. The Phillies outfield is yet again a question mark, with Kepler in left, Marsh in center, and Castellanos in right. I would assume that Johan Rojas is still the first option as a backup with Marsh’s flexibility but outside of that, the Phillies remain thin in the outfield.

That question can be answered when looking at the Phillies’ bench.

The Phillies Bench Picture

The Phillies’ projected Opening Day lineup looks to be set:

• Catcher: J.T. Realmuto
• First Base: Bryce Harper
• Second Base: Bryson Stott
• Third Base: Alec Bohm
• Shortstop: Trea Turner
• Left Field: Max Kepler
• Center Field: Brandon Marsh
• Right Field: Nick Castellanos
• DH: Kyle Schwarber

That leaves four bench spots up for grabs. Three of those appear to be filled:

• Backup catcher – Rafael Marchán or Garrett Stubbs.
• Utility infielder – Edmundo Sosa (lock it in)
• Fourth outfielder – Johan Rojas (almost a guarantee)

That means there is one spot left on the bench for the Phillies, unless they begin the season with a seven-man bullpen which is definitely a possibility given the strength in their rotation.

The Contenders for the Final Bench Spot

• Kody Clemens (left-handed bat, plays first/second/third).
• Buddy Kennedy (right-handed bat, plays second/third).
• Weston Wilson (right-handed bat, plays all over the field).

Clemens & Kennedy are out of options—if they don’t make the team, they’d have to be DFA’d. Wilson has options—meaning the Phillies can send him to the minors without losing him.

If the Phillies want to keep as much roster depth as possible, they might lean toward keeping Clemens, knowing they won’t lose Wilson if he doesn’t make the team. But if they decide they need another right-handed bat to balance the lineup, Wilson probably has the edge—and he’s got the numbers to back it up.

The Case for Weston Wilson

Wilson might not be a household name, but he quietly raked against left-handed pitching in limited action last year:

• Hit .284 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, and an .836 OPS in 98 total plate appearances.
• Insane numbers vs. lefties – 1.096 OPS in 60 career big-league PA against southpaws.

That’s exactly the kind of player the Phillies thought Hays would be, right?

The Case for Kody Clemens

Clemens didn’t post eye-popping numbers last season (.219 average, 5 HR, .705 OPS), but he had some clutch moments, including a walk-off hit against the Rays in September. And while he isn’t known for hitting lefties, he actually did well in a small sample:

• Hit .300 with a .783 OPS in 21 PA vs. left-handers.

Clemens has spent time with this team over the last two seasons and knows the organization well. That familiarity could work in his favor, but he understands nothing is guaranteed.

Final Thoughts: A Battle Worth Watching

This isn’t a headline-grabbing roster battle, but it’s the kind of decision that can quietly make a big impact over 162 games.

If Kepler struggles against lefties, the Phillies will need someone to step up. Wilson makes the most sense on paper—his track record against southpaws is hard to ignore—but if the Phillies want to keep as much depth as possible, Clemens might sneak onto the roster.

Spring training will decide it.

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