Philadelphia Phillies: 5 bold predictions for the 2022 MLB season

The 2022 Philadelphia Phillies begin their season with some good vibes around the team. The front office managed to secure some big boppers in the offseason. At least on day one of the MLB season, the team is in first place.

Some concerns do remain. What is the defense going to look like? Will the team be able to hit as well as we imagine they can? Is the bullpen going to keep us awake at night?

It will take less than 162 games to know those answers. Before the year does begin, though, it’s time to lay out some predictions for what lies ahead. Let’s go bold with these five predictions for the 2022 Phillies season.

Bold Philadelphia Phillies prediction: Bryce Harper finishes fourth on the team in home runs.

Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper can hit home runs but it’s not what he does best. A power-hitter for sure, Harper does so many other things well. He can hit for average but more importantly, he gets on base at a high rate.

This year, with two new sluggers added into the mix, the need for Harper dingers will be fewer. And I suspect with Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber here, Harper sees far fewer pitches to swat into the upper-deck. As a result, I’m predicting Harper finishes fourth on the team in total home runs.

Don’t panic. He’s going to score a ton of runs. He’s going to have a lot of RBI, too. But it’s Castellanos, Schwarber, and Rhys Hoskins who will go yard more often than Harper this year. In fact, I’ll go bolder. All of them hit 30 or more.

This is exactly how the Phillies plan to win this year. They’re hoping for those four to combine for at least 120 home runs. If they can each stay healthy, it’s very possible given their history.