Scott Lauber

Inside the Phillies: Shane Victorino’s advice for Justin Crawford, a changing rotation, and more The former Phillies center fielder met up with the future one, who wanted to know: What’s it like to play in Philadelphia?

Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: A former Phillies CF has advice for a future Phillies CF. Plus, a changing of the guard in the rotation, bullpen decisions, and more: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jus...

A frustrated Aidan Miller says his sore back is ‘getting better,’ but his return is uncertain The Phillies won’t rush back the prospect, who was a long shot to make the opening day roster but was expected to get infield reps in preparation for a potential midseason call-up.

Top Phillies prospect Aidan Miller was set to play in Arizona Fall League but didn't b/c of "some nagging things physically," the team said then. We know now Miller's back flared late last season, just as it has again this spring. More from Miller at @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/aid...

Got a Phillies question? Ask it here (or by DM, or email slauber@inquirer.com), and I'll try to answer on the next episode of "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from @inquirer.com.Thanks!

Don Mattingly could give Bryce Harper’s career a boost with the Phillies. Maybe Harper can reciprocate. The Hitman (Mattingly) has never won a World Series. The Showman (Harper) might be able to help him with that.

The Hitman. The Showman. And the mutual admiration among two megastars of the sport who can help each other achieve the one thing that eluded both of them. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

Zack Wheeler’s outlook might be a mystery, but he says there’s no reason he can’t ‘be who I am’ in 2026 Wheeler detailed the few days in August that led to surgery to remove a blood clot. Although the Phillies ace won’t be ready for opening day, he's approaching his return in classic Wheeler fashion.

A "full" feeling, a bubble under the arm, a blood clot, two surgeries, another clot, a winter of rehab, and still, "I don’t think there’s any reason why I wouldn’t be who I am." Zack Wheeler, unfazed as ever, on the road back. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/zac...

Andrew Painter is ready, three years later than he expected. And maybe that’s a ‘blessing in disguise.’ Painter’s time is now. At last. At age 22, just as his agent hoped. And he finds the whole thing to be oddly prophetic.

In 2023, before the injury and the surgery and the return, Scott Boras told Andrew Painter that he’d “love it if you didn’t throw your first pitch in the big leagues until you’re 22.” In that case, Painter’s time is right now. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...

Brad Keller Podcast Episode · Phillies Extra · February 23 · 39m

🚨 New episode of the “Phillies Extra” podcast from @inquirer.com This week: Brad Keller on joining the Phillies and getting ready to pitch for Team USA. Perfect soundtrack for shoveling.

—Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0bdJ...

—Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Olympic hockey drama left Phillies spellbound. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hope to join baseball’s fun in the ’28 Games. Many Phillies were engrossed in the gold medal game on Sunday. Soon some of them will get to play for their countries at the World Baseball Classic.

The gold medal hockey game left Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and other Phillies spellbound. MLB needs to follow the NHL into the Olympics. "It'd be great for our game in general to where you go to the Olympics and it’s worldwide." From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

Justin Crawford is ready to show he can take ‘control’ in the Phillies outfield Already with impressive closing speed in the field, Crawford is using this spring to keep refining a swing that produced a .322 average in the minors.

In committing to a 22-year-old rookie in center field, the Phillies want Justin Crawford to take charge in the outfield. Saturday was a good start. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jus...

Q&A: John Middleton on Phillies’ high payroll amid looming labor war, Dave Dombrowski-Bryce Harper saga, and more In a wide-ranging interview with The Inquirer, the Phillies owner described going "to bed at 11 o’clock thinking we had a deal" with Bo Bichette and why he doesn't believe in blowing up his team.

Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: John Middleton on Phillies’ payroll amid looming labor war, Dave Dombrowski-Bryce Harper saga, and more: www.inquirer.com/phillies/joh...

Phillies roster questions going into the first spring game: Fifth starter, bullpen picture, and more Starting on Saturday, the Phillies will play 30 spring training games. Based on reporting from the first eight days of camp, let’s dive into some storylines to watch.

On the eve of Grapefruit League opener, a reminder: Spring-training games don’t count. But try telling that to players who are competing for jobs. “To make an impression, you’ve got to play it like it’s a game that’s meaningful.” From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/ros...

The Phillies’ Trea Turner was still the fastest man in the league at 32. And it’s not due just to ‘genetics.’ What’s his secret? “I pay attention to a lot of little things,” says Turner, who hasn’t lost a step 10 years into his career. In fact, he may be a tick faster with no sign of slowing down.

The fastest man in the National League in 2015 was still wearing the crown in 2025. How is that possible? Trea Turner shares his secrets to staying in the fast lane. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/tre...

With free agency looming next year, Alec Bohm is prepared to bat cleanup (again) for Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper Bohm conceded this his game was "down last year" but is confident that his ability to "put the ball in play" will be an asset in the cleanup spot behind Schwarber or Harper.

“I’m prototypically not your average cleanup hitter,” Alec Bohm conceded, before stating his case anyway to protect Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/ale...

Trea Turner on not returning to Team USA in the WBC: "It's something I wanted to do. The phone never rang. It's so much fun. I gladly would have done it again. I said it last time, if they ever ask, I would say yes. They've got a great roster this year. It's stacked."

J.T. Realmuto Podcast Episode · Phillies Extra · 02/16/2026 · 32m

🚨New episode of the "Phillies Extra" podcast from @inquirer.com. J.T. Realmuto on his roller-coaster offseason contract talks, Nick Castellanos, his outlook for the 2026 rotation, and more. Listen here:

--Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/60DP...
--Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...

Bryce Harper says Dave Dombrowski’s ‘not elite’ comment is ‘kind of wild to me still’ The Phillies slugger talked about the perceived criticism on Sunday, saying he was surprised it was not handled "in-house." Don’t be surprised if Harper channels all of this into an MVP-worthy season.

Bryce Harper arrived in Phillies' camp Sunday, 122 days after his baseball elite-ness became a topic of conversation, and, well, "It's kind of wild to me still." From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/phi...

J.T. Realmuto ‘never felt like a Plan B’ for Phillies while continuing fight to boost pay scale for catchers Realmuto's offensive production has declined, but his game-calling value and diligence in putting together a game plan led to his new three-year, $45 million contract with the Phillies.

Weekend baseball reading from @inquirer.com: J.T. Realmuto has long contended that catchers are underpaid relative to other positions. He fought that fight again this winter, even though it nearly led him and the Phillies to go their separate ways: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jt-...

A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager: Inside the final Phillies season for Nick Castellanos After being lifted from a game in June, Castellanos brought a Presidente to the bench and lectured Rob Thomson. It was the beginning of the end for the $100 million outfielder with the Phillies.

A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager. On the unceremonious end of Nick Castellanos' time with the Phillies. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/nic...

Nick Castellanos on Instagram 9,195 likes, 724 comments - casty_8 on February 12, 2026

In a letter posted on Instagram, Nick Castellanos admits that he was benched on June 16 in Miami for bringing a beer into the dugout after Rob Thomson took him out of the game for defense in the ninth inning. www.instagram.com/p/DUq1rwokWG...

The Phillies will release Nick Castellanos today.

Got a Phillies question? Ask me here (or by email: slauber@inquirer.com), and I'll try to answer on the next episode of "Phillies Extra" from @inquirer.com. Thanks.

Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford are in the Phillies’ plans for 2026 — and have the locker placement to prove it “We’ve upgraded a little bit,” joked Crawford, who along with Miller is taking up residence on Millionaires’ Row in the Phillies clubhouse.

"Man, you've got a good little locker spot there." Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford are hanging with the Phillies’ stars, and it’s not a coincidence. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jus...

A few Day 1 notes from Phillies camp:

--Orion Kerkering has a mild hamstring strain.
--Aidan Miller will get reps at 3B, as well as SS.
--Zack Wheeler, throwing from 90 feet, kept the rib that was removed in thoracic outlet decompression surgery. It's in his closet.

Zack Wheeler playing catch on first day of Phillies pitchers and catchers

Are they better? Are their top two stars still elite? Nine questions for the Phillies as spring training opens Their roster might look familiar, but there is plenty of uncertainty ahead for the Phillies, who open spring training on Wednesday.

Phillies pitchers and catchers will have their first official workout tomorrow. Here’s a lineup of questions — a Starting 9, if you will — for spring training from @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/spr...

60 Phillies thoughts ahead of Super Bowl LX: Harper’s chip, Bichette the Met, Wheeler’s projection, and more Once the Patriots and Seahawks are done, mitts will be poppin’ in Florida and Arizona. Here are LX things to chew on in anticipation of Phillies pitchers and catchers getting to work on Wednesday.

Super Bowl LX will monopolize our attention Sunday, but guess what? Phillies pitchers and catchers report Tuesday. Sticking with the theme of the weekend, here are LX baseball notes from @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/sup...

Additionally, four Phillies minor leaguers will play in the WBC: OF Dante Nori (Italy), RHP Jaydenn Estanista (Netherlands), RHP Mitch Neunborn (Australia), and RHP Gabriel Barbosa (Brazil).

Eleven Phillies — more than one-quarter of the 40-man roster — set to play in the World Baseball Classic: Schwarber, Harper, Keller (U.S.); Sanchez, Rojas (D.R.); Alvarado (Venezuela); Nola (Italy); Walker (Mexico); Stubbs, Lazar (Israel); Sosa (Panama).

New episode of “Phillies Extra,” the baseball podcast from @inquirer.com. This week: Orion Kerkering on moving past a season-ending mistake.

—Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5kWj...
—Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Ranking the Phillies’ top 10 prospects: Key question, 2026 outlook for each The Phillies' pipeline of young talent to their major league roster has essentially been a drip over the past two years. That should change this season.

‘Tis the season for prospect rankings. The @inquirer.com annual preseason Phillies top 10. Weekend baseball reading: www.inquirer.com/phillies/pro...