It’s been nearly three months since the 2020 season came to a close for the Philadelphia Phillies. In Bryce Harper’s sophomore season with the team, the Fightin’ Phils showed little fight, finishing with a .500 or below record for the ninth consecutive season.

  During a season that was delayed and adjusted numerous times due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Phillies struggled to find consistent production from players all across the roster—with much blame being placed on a bullpen unit that was one of the worst of all time. Playoff contenders can’t afford to have these kinds of misfortunes.

  The bullpen can only improve from here, but how is the lineup trending? That’s what I’ll be addressing today in the first edition of Ring The Bell, The Voyager’s column for anything and everything about the Philadelphia Phillies.

  This overview will detail each player currently projected to start on 2021 Opening Day, so currently-unsigned stars J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius will not be listed.

  We begin with catcher Andrew Knapp, who was formerly the backup for Realmuto. Knapp isn’t a player that anyone will get excited about, but he’s a dependable option behind the dish. He’s more of a defensive-minded player and doesn’t offer much with the bat, but he won’t hurt your team. 

  All things being said, he’s a major step down from Realmuto, the best catcher in baseball.

  Ninety feet away stands fifth-year first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Following a supernova of a rookie season in 2017, he’s come back down to Earth in the years since. He’s still one of the better power hitters in the National League, usually hitting around thirty home runs and a hundred RBIs in a 162-game campaign. Also, his superb plate discipline and ability to draw walks is a great asset, and sets up scoring opportunities for the rest of the lineup.

  Down at the keystone waits second baseman Scott Kingery. So far, the Phillies look like fools for signing him to a 6-year, $24 million contract in 2018, before ever playing a game in the majors. The 2018 season was one to forget for him, but he rebounded nicely in 2019. Coming into this season, he was expected to be the everyday second baseman, but a rough case of COVID-19 put him out of commission.

  After returning to the field however, things could not have gone much worse. With a batting average and slugging percentage of .159 and .283 respectively, he looked lost and confused at the plate. Let’s hope that we can attribute his lowly performance to his battle with the coronavirus.

  Phillies fans had high hopes for shortstop Jean Segura prior to the 2019 season, after he was traded from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for first baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop J.P. Crawford. He was known around the league as a dependable, hit-heavy shortstop who could spray the ball to all fields, and could run a bit as well. However, a hot start to the season gave way to a major slump that dragged on through the summer. 

  These struggles continued in 2020, and his name has been included in trade rumors as the Phillies attempt to cut payroll during the pandemic. He’s primed to rebound if he remains with the team, as he’s still a very talented pure hitting shortstop.

  Following Kingery’s early-season struggles, he was moved over to the bench, and Segura moved over from third base to fill in at second. Who would be the Phils’ new third-baseman? Waiting in the wings was the third-overall selection in the 2018 draft, prized prospect Alec Bohm.

  From his debut on August 13th to the end of the season, all he did was hit, quickly becoming the most consistent hitter in the lineup. It seemed that no moment was too big for him—and a clutch hitter was exactly what the Phillies were lacking at the time. BBWAA writers supported his successful rookie season, as he finished as the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting.

  For next season, Bohm looks to follow up on his dynamic rookie year with an All-Star selection, Silver Slugger award, or possibly even an MVP nomination.

  Heading over to the outfield, 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen provides veteran leadership and consistent performance in left field. When he was signed to a three-year contract before the 2019 season, many fans were confused. The former Pittsburgh Pirates superstar was not getting any younger, and his play had been on a steady decline.

  However, he’s proved to be a pleasant surprise for the first two seasons of the contract. Through an injury-shortened 2019 campaign which ended in an ACL tear, he provided outfield consistency and an above-average bat to the playoff-hopeful Phillies. McCutchen’s play carried over to the 2020 season, and the final year of his contract looks to be a pivotal, make or break season for the team.

  Since the suspension of All-Star center fielder Odubel Herrera in mid-2019 due to domestic violence, there’s been a noticeable hole in the outfield. Both Roman Quinn and Adam Haseley have split time as his replacement, but Quinn will most likely serve as the Opening Day starter in 2021.

  In terms of hitting production, Quinn has almost no value—as he had an OPS of only .576 in 2020. His true claim to fame lies with his legs, as he ranks second on the Statcast Sprint Speed leaderboard, averaging 30.5 feet per second. If he reaches base, he’s a sure bet to steal second and third base, but that’s where the problem lies—reaching base is an issue for him.

  If Quinn shows further struggles with the bat, expect Haseley to either take on a larger role or take the starting job outright.

  Finally, out in right field, we have the face of the Philadelphia Phillies, superstar Bryce Harper. There’s nothing that can be said about him that hasn’t already been said. Signed to a 13-year, $330 million deal in 2019, he’s one of the most talented and marketable faces in the game. A true leader on and off the field, Harper brings excitement and attention everywhere he goes.

  With a powerful bat and strong outfield arm, Harper has all the tools to replicate his otherworldly 2015 season in which he won the 2015 NL MVP award.

  As it currently stands, the 2021 Phillies projected lineup looks strong, but not as deadly as it was in 2020. The potential losses of Gregorius and Realmuto are substantial blows to the offense, as well as the defense. If the two are not able to be resigned, then expect the Phillies to spend money on upgrades to the bullpen.

  No matter how the offense performs, one thing’s for certain—the bullpen must be better than last year. There’s no other option.