Spring Training: Phillies set to head South for year No. 79 in Clearwater

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The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for their 79th spring training in Clearwater, Florida, and the trucks are already getting packed.

With less than two weeks until camp officially begins, the roster looks set. The front office has made its moves—Jordan Romano and Joe Ross bolster the bullpen, Max Kepler slots into left field, and Jesús Luzardo joins one of the best rotations in baseball.

Now, it’s time to get to work.

Phillies Spring Training: Key Dates in February

• Feb. 12 – First workout for pitchers and catchers
• Feb. 19 – First full-squad workout

Reports already suggest that some players are getting early work in at the complex. No surprise there—this team has unfinished business after last year’s early playoff exit.

Phillies Bringing Back 2008 Legends as Guest Instructors

One of the coolest traditions in Clearwater is the guest instructors, and this year’s group is straight out of a Phillies Hall of Fame highlight reel.

Per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the Phillies are bringing back four members of the 2008 World Series championship team. Maybe these names sound familiar? Not sure.

• Cole Hamels – 2008 World Series MVP & NLCS MVP, recently retired, now set for a role on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
• Ryan Howard – The “Big Piece” crushed 382 homers in his Phillies career and won the 2009 NLCS MVP. He’ll have plenty to share with the club’s young power hitters.
• Jimmy Rollins – The 2007 NL MVP, a four-time Gold Glover, and one of the best shortstops in franchise history.
• Shane Victorino – The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” played eight seasons with the Phils and was a two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. Expect him to be working closely with Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas in the outfield.

If you’re looking for winning DNA, you couldn’t ask for a better crew.

Jordan Romano Already Throwing in Clearwater

The Phillies’ biggest bullpen addition of the offseason, Jordan Romano, isn’t waiting for camp to start—he’s already getting to work. Romano has been throwing side sessions at the spring training complex, with his latest session featuring 20 solid pitches with good velocity.

Romano, 31, is looking to bounce back after undergoing an elbow procedure last summer. The Phillies signed him to a one-year, $8.5 million deal, banking on him returning to his 2022-23 All-Star form, where he posted a 2.49 ERA with 72 saves.

If Romano can get back to that level, the Phillies’ bullpen just got a lot scarier.

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Truck Day: The First Sign of Baseball Season

Nothing says spring training is near like Truck Day—the annual tradition of loading up all of the Phillies’ gear and shipping it down to Florida.

This year, the big send-off is set for Feb. 3, when three 28-foot trailers packed with everything the team needs will depart Citizens Bank Park. Fans can catch a glimpse of the trucks at 18th and Market Streets at noon before they begin their 1,058-mile trek to BayCare Ballpark.

What’s inside? Everything from bats and baseballs to 10,000 paper cups, 600 hats, 75 pairs of shoes, and even a few bikes.

Once the trucks arrive in Clearwater on Feb. 7, it’s officially Phillies baseball season.

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