There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free pass. For all the talk about the Phillies being too willing to swing and chase in 2024, they were one of the better teams in the league at taking bases on balls, with their 515 walks ranking 7th league-wide. And this year, with their increased focus on plate discipline, they’ve been even better. Through 20 games they’ve worked 89 walks, tied with Arizona for 2nd best league wide (the Cubs pace the pack with 92). It’s a great start to the season both in comparison to their 2025 competitors and to the Phillies teams of the past; only 9 other Phillies teams had more walks to start the season (the 1996 Phillies may have finished with an unimpressive 67-95 record, but no other team in franchise history can boast more than their 107 walks through their first 20 games).
The Season is Short, Walk on J.T.
