Philadelphia Phillies projected to set a new franchise home run record

The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies hit 224 home runs. It was a franchise record.

Ryan Howard led the way with 45 followed by Jayson Werth with 36. The team also got 34 home runs from Raul Ibanez and another 31 from Chase Utley. Even Jimmy Rollins, a guy whose power fluctuated throughout his career, knocked 21 dingers.

The 2022 roster has something in common. They are also expected to round the bases a lot. In fact, according to FanGraphs’ Roster Resource, the projected Opening Day roster alone will hit more than 224.

How many home runs will the Philadelphia Phillies hit in 2022?

I added them all up. I ignored the guys who will get a sip of coffee. The total projected by Roster Resource is 232.

Returning sluggers Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins are projected to hit over 30. Newcomers Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos will join them. Combined, these four Phillies could combine to hit about 130-140 of them. This doesn’t even include J.T. Realmuto who is usually good for about 20 or bounce-back campaigns from Didi Gregorius or Alec Bohm. Plus, there’s Bryson Stott to consider, too.

Home runs will obviously not make the Phillies a winning ball club. You need a full roster. You need to make sure your pitchers aren’t giving up just as many. If baseball was a Home Run Derby, the Phillies would be planning their parade right. Instead, they’re going to need to wait a couple of months to see how things shake out and hope their pitching can keep up.

One offensive record we won’t see the Phillies topple is the all-time runs scored total. Set way back in 1894, the 71-57-4 club scored 1179 times. Only the last-place 1930 team has come close since the world celebrated the switch into the 1900s. They scored 944 runs.

As far as modern totals are concerned, it’s actually not the 2009 Phillies this club should aim to replicate. The 2007 Phillies, with 892 runs scored, were a better offense. The 2009 club scored only 820 times—still one of the best in franchise history but fewer than even the 1999 and 2004 clubs.

The bleachers at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark will be a souvenir haven. Bring a hard hat. This team can swat them.