The Philadelphia Phillies are almost a week into their Grapefruit League schedule. For the most part, things have gone smoothly for the defending NL East champs — aside from a small panic on Wednesday when superstar Bryce Harper got beaned by Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Richard Lovelady. After tying the New York Yankees on Thursday, 7-7, the Phils find themselves 2-2-1 in the early going.

While the record doesn’t matter, seeing the big boys come out to play does. And on Thursday, we got to the some of the Phillies big ticket pitchers take the hill. Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, Jose Alvarado and newcomer Jordan Romano all came out of the bullpen against the Yankees for their first inning of work. But the biggest name was starter Zack Wheeler.

Zack Wheeler makes his spring debut for Phillies

Wheeler took to the mound in Clearwater to make his spring training Grapefruit League debut against the Yankees. Phillies fans in attendance at BayCare Ballpark were treated to a very typical Wheeler-esque performance — something we’ve become so accustomed to that anything less would be a huge shock, even for his first game action of the year.

Wheeler threw his planned two innings and looked good doing so. He allowed one hit and struck out four, throwing 30 pitches (18 strikes) to get through his debut.

The Phillies will be counting on the two-time Cy Young runner-up to lead one of the top rotations this season. And if his first spring appearance is any indication, he’s right on track to do just that.

Kyle Schwarber takes on a new position

Kyle Schwarber led off for the Phillies on Thursday. With changes likely coming to the top of the lineup this season, the lefty slugger won’t see much time in the familiar one-hole. The more notable event from the Phillies’ fifth game of the spring was Schwarber starting at first base.

Manager Rob Thomson is trying to squeeze as much versatility as possible from his established roster this season. With Schwarber already a candidate to see time in left field, adding first base to his repertoire will allow the Phillies to spell Bryce Harper with some days as the designated hitter and get him off his feet occasionally while keeping both players’ bats in the lineup.

First base isn’t completely foreign to the 31-year-old. He appeared at first in 10 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2021, and once with the Chicago Cubs in 2017, but it had been a while. He played five innings in the field, making three put outs along the way.

‘Talented’ Gabriel Rincones Jr. praised for spring start

Outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. has turned heads early this spring. While not known for his defense, his undeniable power has shone through. He belted a 391-foot homer at 107.1 mph on Sunday and then parked an opposite-field dinger on Wednesday against veteran Toronto Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos.

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While Rincones, 23, isn’t going to be a consideration for the Opening Day roster, he’s earning praise from Thomson (subscription required), according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.

“This guy can really hit,” Thomson said after Wednesday’s 9-6 Phillies win, per Gelb. “I mean, you see how he uses the field. It looks like he stays in on lefties. … He’s a good player. He plays every pitch on defense. He’s ready. He’s a talented kid.”

After missing time with injuries since being drafted in the third round in 2022, Rincones might get a promotion to Triple-A this season after finishing 2024 in Double-A. If he keeps showing out in spring action, he could even begin the year in Lehigh Valley, says Gelb.