What will the Phillies' Spring Breakout lineup look like?
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- If you want a peek at the Phillies¡¯ future, check out Spring Breakout on Friday at BayCare Ballpark.
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The top Phillies prospects will play the top Pirates prospects in an exhibition at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Phils have made no announcement, but right-hander Mois¨¦s Chace could start. He is the organization¡¯s No. 5 prospect and its second-highest-ranked pitching prospect behind right-hander Andrew Painter (No. 1 in the system, No. 8 in baseball).
Painter will not pitch Friday, although he is scheduled to throw his first live batting practice session. He is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2023. No. 8 prospect Mick Abel will not pitch, either. He started Tuesday¡¯s Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Here is a stab at what the Phillies¡¯ lineup might look like on Friday:
1. Justin Crawford, CF (No. 3 Phillies prospect, No. 63 MLB prospect). He impressed the Phillies in his first big league camp. Is there a chance he earns a promotion later this season? Sure, anything is possible. But the Phillies aren¡¯t relying on it, either.
3. Aidan Miller, SS (No. 2, No. 27). He didn¡¯t get a hit in nine Grapefruit League at-bats, but don¡¯t read anything into that. Miller could be the Phils¡¯ best position player prospect since Chase Utley.
4. Gabriel Rincones Jr., RF (No. 10). ¡°Uncle Rico¡± has shown big league power in camp. He will open the season in the Minor Leagues, where he will work on hitting left-handed pitching. He had an .851 OPS against righties last season, but a .493 OPS against lefties.
5. Eduardo Tait, C (No. 4, No. 92). Tait is a big-time talent, but he has a long way to go. He will not turn 19 until Aug. 27.
6. Devin Saltiban, 2B (No. 9). The Phillies are high on Saltiban. They believe the more he sees velocity, the better he will hit it. He did not see much growing up on the Big Island in Hawaii.
7. Otto Kemp, 1B (No. 23). Kemp has six hits, including three doubles, this spring. His best position is third base, but he could also play first, second, left and right. He projects as a bench bat.
8. Carson DeMartini, 3B (No. 15). The Phillies selected DeMartini in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft. He made more contact last season once he turned pro, which has the Phils encouraged.
9. Griffin Burkholder, DH (No. 7). This will be the first look for most fans. Burkholder had only two plate appearances last year because of a hamstring injury.