3 Phillies Struggling Out of the Gate—and Slowing the Team’s Momentum
While the Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2025 season with high hopes and early flashes of promise, not everything has gone according to plan. A handful of underperforming veterans have put a damper on the team’s momentum, echoing concerns from last season’s late collapse that saw Philly fizzle out in the playoffs after a strong midseason run.
Among the more surprising disappointments? Newly acquired outfielder Max Kepler, who was expected to be a steady presence in left field. After a scorching spring training performance—where he posted a 1.175 OPS in 17 games—Kepler looked primed to make a major impact. But so far, he’s struggled to find his footing in regular-season play.
Kepler made a strong early impression with a 3-for-4 showing in the home opener against the Rockies, collecting a double, a home run, and an RBI. But his hot start quickly turned cold. Over his next six games, he went just 1-for-18, dragging his OPS from 1.318 down to .678 and slashing his average nearly in half.
The inconsistency has persisted. Kepler has mixed brief flashes of productivity—like back-to-back multi-hit games against San Francisco—with hitless stretches that have raised eyebrows. Through 19 games, his slash line sits at .240/.337/.360 with only one home run and four RBIs in 86 plate appearances. For a player expected to help solidify the middle of the order, those numbers fall well short.
Despite some encouraging signs—like a career-high 50.9% hard-hit rate and expected stats (a .275 xBA and .390 xSLG) suggesting he’s had some tough luck—Kepler hasn’t converted quality contact into production. His 89.1 mph average exit velocity and 7.0% barrel rate align with his career averages, but the extra-base hits and run production just haven’t been there.
With a crowded outfield and a batting order still looking for identity beyond the top four, Kepler will need to bring more consistency to his at-bats. If not, the Phillies risk repeating the offensive struggles that haunted them late last season. For now, the team will need their offseason addition to rediscover the rhythm he showed this spring—and fast.