Phillies Players With Most to Prove for Rest of 2024 Season

The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of baseball's elite teams in the early going this season, with a rock solid offense, one of the best starting rotations in baseball and a vastly improved bullpen.

However, they are not without their question marks, and there are a handful of players with something to prove in the coming months.

Whether it's an underperforming or injured star, an upcoming free agent, or a breakout performer at a key position who needs to maintain his current level of production, there are many reasons a player might have something to prove.

Ahead, we've highlighted three such names on the Phillies roster.

OF Nick Castellanos

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 09: Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring in the fourth inning during the 2024 London Series game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at London Stadium on Sunday, June 9, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

After a lackluster first season in Philadelphia, outfielder Nick Castellanos bounced back nicely in 2023 when he posted a 111 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 29 home runs and 106 RBI, earning his second career All-Star selection in the process.

The third season of his five-year, $100 million deal has been another major step backward.

The 32-year-old does have 12 doubles and nine home runs, but he is hitting just .219/.275/.371 for an 83 OPS+ and that below-average showing at the plate coupled with his poor defense has made him a minus-0.3 WAR player.

He is hitting .278/.307/.556 with 13 extra-base hits in his last 17 games, so perhaps he is finally turning a corner.

RHP Orion Kerkering

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 04: Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on June 04, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The Phillies have a lights out "Big Three" at the back of their bullpen in Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and José Alvarado, and rookie Orion Kerkering has the potential to be the fourth member of that group.

Armed with a 97.9 mph fastball and a lethal sweeper, he has the prototypical late-inning profile, and he got a taste of the big stage last October when he made nine appearances.

The 23-year-old has a 1.40 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 with five holds in 24 appearances, and while he has pitched primarily in low-leverage situations, there is no such thing in October when the pressure ranks up and every out is huge.

Continuing to post strong numbers in the coming months could solidify Kerkering's standing as the No. 4 guy in the bullpen and a key piece of the puzzle in the playoffs.

RHP Taijuan Walker

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 09: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies opens the pitching during the 2024 London Series game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at London Stadium on Sunday, June 9, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Despite posting a 1.67 ERA in 32.1 innings over six starts in April, Spencer Turnbull was moved to the bullpen once Taijuan Walker returned from a shoulder issue that sidelined him during spring training.

Walker went 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 157.1 innings in the first season of a four-year, $72 million deal last year, and while he didn't pitch in the postseason, that hefty contract and solid overall performance will afford him every opportunity to prove himself this year.

The 31-year-old has a 5.33 ERA and 5.13 FIP in 49 innings over his first nine appearances, and the Phillies have been on the losing end of each of his last four starts.

How much longer before the team considers moving Turnbull back into the rotation if Walker doesn't get on track?