This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://philliesnation.com/2026/02/philadelphia-phillies-bryce-harper-spring-training-clearwater-cleanup-spot-lineup-protection-rob-thomson-adolis-garcia-jt-realmuto/and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us [ad_1] Bryce Harper spoke with reporters on Sunday morning in Clearwater. (Madeline Ressler/Phillies Nation) CLEARWATER, Fla. — The cleanup spot has been an issue for the Phillies, and Bryce Harper is aware of it. In a 15-minute interview with reporters in Clearwater on Sunday morning, the subject of lineup development, safety and Harper’s tendency to chase all got here up. Who is hitting behind him, in keeping with Harper, issues relating to getting extra pitches within the strike zone. “I think it’s a huge impact in the four spot,” Harper mentioned. “I mean, I think anybody. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or (Kyle Schwarber). Because if Schwarbs is hitting there, same things are going to happen, right? So I think four spot’s a huge impact. I think the numbers in the four spot weren’t very good last year for our whole team. Whoever is in that four spot is going to have a big job to do, depending on who’s hitting three.” Multiple issues may be true. Pitchers have little incentive to pitch within the strike zone if Harper is chasing on the charge he has over the previous few years. Harper’s 35.6% chase charge in 2025 was the best it has been since 2022. Since recording a chase charge of solely 24.8% in his MVP season in 2021, Harper has persistently chased out of the zone over 30% of the time. Now that Nick Castellanos is now not on the Phillies, Harper, together with new free agent signing Adolis García, are the largest chasers within the Phillies’ projected Opening Day lineup. “Chasing pitches or chasing stuff out of the zone, you know, missing pitches over the plate, I talk to guys about it all the time,” Harper mentioned. “You know, I take all those things. Obviously, you try to work on those things and understand what you need to do in the offseason, you know, in spring training, things like that. Hopefully see a couple more pitches in the zone this year, not really sure if that’s going to happen. But hopefully it does and, you know, I can be better.” It’s additionally true that the Phillies usually are not getting sufficient manufacturing out of their cleanup hitters. Castellanos, Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm accounted for 92% of the staff’s plate look from the cleanup spot in 2025. The staff’s .720 OPS from No. 4 hitters (99 wRC+) ranked twentieth in MLB. 2023 was the final yr by which the Phillies received prime 10 manufacturing out of the cleanup spot. Castellanos, in his All-Star season, amassed by far probably the most at-bats in that spot. Rob Thomson on Sunday talked about that his desire is for Trea Turner, Schwarber and Harper to all hit within the first inning. The order they hit and who hits immediately behind them remains to be to be decided. “Bohm was hurt a lot,” Thomson mentioned. “He missed some time, and he would have taken down most of the at-bats there. We’re always looking to put out the best lineup possible and to be able to protect everybody. And sometimes it’s not possible, but we’re just going to keep working at it, fiddling with lineups and try to come up with the best one.” Thomson talked about García as a possible choice. “García looks really good,” Thomson mentioned. “If he bounces back, that’s a possible option. J.T. looks really good. You preferably want a right-hander in that spot.” “He’s a dynamic player, obviously,” Harper mentioned about García. “Gold Glove caliber player in the outfield. Very big bounce back candidate for us. And hopefully it works out. I think he’s gonna have a lot more fun hitting in Philly than he did in the big Texas stadium. But also, you’re not really sure until it happens.” Things would have seemed otherwise had the Phillies landed Bo Bichette within the offseason. Bohm and Realmuto possible wouldn't have returned, resulting in an actual shake up within the Phillies lineup. Bichette, a contact-oriented right-handed bat, might have been an choice to hit behind Harper. Harper will possible get to place his idea on lineup safety to the check in a really small pattern measurement on the World Baseball Classic. He’s excited to be a part of a loaded Team USA lineup that features Schwarber, Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr. “I can’t wait,” Harper mentioned. “Representing your country, there’s nothing better. Nothing better. I mean, the feeling of putting USA on your chest and playing for something so much bigger than yourself, representing your whole country, there’s nothing greater. So, having Aaron Judge hit behind me is going to be a lot of fun as well.” Camp Notes Sunday was the obligatory report date for all gamers to report. Everyone is in camp, together with García and Turner, who have been noticed within the Phillies clubhouse for the primary time on Sunday. Thomson was requested if he addressed the commerce rumors surrounding Bohm this offseason: “Well the rumors come from the outside world,” Thomson mentioned. “Last year, I did because it’s probably the first time he’s ever been through it. But I texted him a couple times this year this offseason, but not specifically about the trade rumors that are out there.” Harper talked about in his interview that he hasn’t felt wrist ache since coming off the injured checklist in late June of final yr: “The wrist feels great, Harper said. “I haven’t had any pain since Pittsburgh. So after I came back, I haven’t had any wrist pain since. So that’s great. Really happy about that.” [ad_2] This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you may go to the hyperlink bellow: https://philliesnation.com/2026/02/philadelphia-phillies-bryce-harper-spring-training-clearwater-cleanup-spot-lineup-protection-rob-thomson-adolis-garcia-jt-realmuto/and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us