Philly Leader

The Phillies are set to play their second game of a three-game series against the Braves at Truist Park. Ahead of the match, Phillies beat reporter Todd Zolecki answered questions from fans in a Reddit AMA.

When asked about the future of players Ranger Suárez, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto, Zolecki predicted, "My gut is telling me we’ll re-sign Schwarber and Realmuto." He remarked on Schwarber's potential to emulate David Ortiz as the Phillies' designated hitter, and his impressive start to the season, suggesting a contract extension could be considered. Contrastingly, Zolecki expressed doubt about Suárez re-signing, noting the team's existing pitching commitments and Suárez's potential demand for a significant contract.

Zolecki also discussed Alec Bohm’s performance as an everyday starter, emphasizing the importance of patience and recalling, "Let's not forget that Bohm had 97 RBIs in 2023 and 2024. He was an All-Star last year." He compared Bohm's situation with Nick Castellanos' previous form, noting how patience paid off with the latter's performance turnaround.

Regarding managerial decisions, Zolecki explained the role of collaboration between the front office and manager Rob Thomson, clarifying, "Dave Dombrowski stresses repeatedly that he does not tell Thomson how to set his lineup."

Zolecki also shared his personal all-time Phillies lineup and rotation, naming players like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Mike Schmidt, among others, acknowledging the Philadelphia legends.

In lighter conversation, Zolecki commented on fans' less significant concerns, such as disliking the score bug visuals and the song selection at Citizens Bank Park after games. He mentioned, "I've been wanting to change the song that plays immediately after Harry Kalas sings 'High Hopes.'"

Zolecki’s section of the AMA provided fans with insights into team strategy, player futures, and personal opinions on Phillies-related topics.