The Philadelphia Phillies appear to be off to a good start in the 2025 Major League Baseball season. However, it has not been the good start to the year that many expected after their 95-win season in 2024. The Philadelphia Phillies hold second place in the National League East division with a 17–13 record.
Nonetheless, some of the Phillies’ success this season has been attributed to good performances by a few players on their 26-man roster.
However, there have been a few players whose contributions have been substantially missing, to the point where it may become a concern for both the individuals and the team moving ahead.
Let’s take a look at five Phillies players who are leaving.
5. Kody Clemens, INF
Kody Clemens has been one of the unluckier players in the Phillies organization over the past couple of seasons, regularly showcasing his offensive abilities in the minors. Across 130 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley over the last two years, he tallied 94 runs, 32 home runs, and 102 RBIs while maintaining a batting average above .250.
However, he hasn’t been able to carry that success into the major leagues. Over 90 games with the Phillies in 2023 and 2024 as a part-time player, Clemens has struggled with a .225 batting average, a .672 OPS, 32 runs, nine home runs, and 31 RBIs.
Entering 2025 with no remaining minor league options, Clemens faced a pivotal spring training, hoping to secure his place on the roster. He made a strong case, hitting .327 with a .900 OPS, scoring 11 runs, and adding two homers and seven RBIs, which earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Despite his strong spring, Clemens has barely been used in the regular season. Limited to pinch-hitting duties, he’s only had five plate appearances and remains hitless—hardly an opportunity to prove his worth. As the Phillies’ 26th man, his role has been minimal.
If the team lacks confidence in using his bat—his primary asset—his presence on the roster may not be justified. Clemens might be better off with another club that can offer him consistent playing time, while the Phillies could gain value in return, benefiting both sides.
4. Brandon Marsh, OF
Over the last few seasons, Brandon Marsh has been a consistent presence in the Phillies’ outfield, thanks to his standout defensive play — a fact underscored by his recent Gold Glove nomination. Offensively, he’s also contributed respectably, hitting double-digit home runs and tallying 60 RBIs in both 2023 and 2024.
However, one glaring flaw in his game has been his struggles against left-handed pitching. Over his career, he’s hit just .214 with a .578 OPS against southpaws, and things worsened in 2024 when he hit only .192 with a .552 OPS and struck out 33 times in 78 at-bats — numbers that cast doubt on his viability as an everyday starter.
Unfortunately, 2025 has gotten off to an even rougher start. Through 17 games, Marsh is hitting a dreadful .095 with a .387 OPS, along with one home run, five RBIs, and 16 strikeouts in 42 at-bats. What’s more concerning is that his struggles now extend to right-handed pitching as well.
With Weston Wilson nearing a return and Marsh still having minor league options available, the Phillies might consider sending him down to regain his form. This move would allow Wilson to temporarily fill the outfield spot while giving Marsh a chance to reset and work his way back to the productive hitter he’s shown he can be.
3. Joe Ross, RHP
Following the offseason losses of key relievers Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman in free agency, the Phillies were banking on some savvy acquisitions—namely veteran Joe Ross and Jordan Romano—to help fill the void.
Ross, in particular, was coming off a respectable 2024 season with the Milwaukee Brewers after missing most of the prior two years due to Tommy John surgery. He made 25 appearances, including 10 starts, and compiled a 3-6 record with a 3.77 ERA, striking out 66 batters over 74 innings. Crucially, he appeared fully recovered from the elbow procedure, showing no lingering effects.
While Romano has started to settle in after a rocky debut with Philadelphia, Ross has continued to struggle. In seven relief outings, the 31-year-old has gone 1-1 with two blown saves, posting an alarming 9.39 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He’s surrendered eight earned runs, walked two, and struck out just five over 7 2/3 innings.
Ross has allowed runs in more than half of his appearances, including a rough outing on April 10 against the Braves where he failed to record an out and cost the Phillies the game. His bloated ERA ranks worst among all Phillies pitchers, and unless he turns things around soon, he could be at risk of losing his spot on the roster.
2. Carlos Hernández, RHP
Before the regular season began, the Phillies made a late waiver claim, picking up Carlos Hernández from the Kansas City Royals. To clear space on their 40-man roster for the new bullpen addition, they designated Tyler Phillips—last season’s brief breakout performer—for assignment.
Hernández was coming off a career-best year in 2024, recording a solid 3.30 ERA and a 129 ERA+ while nearly averaging a strikeout per inning. Given those numbers, the Phillies viewed him as a strong candidate to fill the final spot in their bullpen entering the 2025 campaign.
However, Hernández has seen limited action under Phillies manager Rob Thomson, appearing in only five games so far. His results have been underwhelming, with a 6.00 ERA and 2.17 WHIP. Over six innings, he has allowed four runs on seven hits, walked six, and struck out five. He’s given up multiple runs in two outings and has mostly been used in low-leverage situations in his last two appearances.
Given his lack of effectiveness in limited action, the Phillies may be better served by using that roster spot on a more productive contributor.
1. Johan Rojas, OF
Once regarded as a top prospect in the Phillies’ farm system, Johan Rojas was projected to be a key part of the team’s future outfield. His elite speed and defensive skills have never been in question—they’ve consistently ranked at a major league level. The biggest uncertainty surrounding his development has been whether his bat could produce consistently at the MLB level.
Rojas made a promising start when he debuted with the Phillies in the middle of the 2023 season, but his offensive performance since then has been underwhelming. Over 188 games, he’s posted just 72 runs, five home runs, and 57 RBIs. Still, many believe that with consistent playing time, he could develop into a more complete offensive contributor.
So far this season, though, Rojas has found himself mostly on the outside looking in, with Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Max Kepler locking down the starting outfield spots. Rojas has started only seven games, making appearances in ten and logging just 20 at-bats. In that limited action, he’s managed only one run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.
To make matters worse, his defense—which was once a standout strength—has also started to slip, with noticeable mistakes in the field during his few appearances.
With such minimal playing time, Rojas faces an uphill battle in developing into the well-rounded player the Phillies hoped for. To avoid becoming another missed opportunity like Cristian Pache rather than a success story like Shane Victorino, Rojas might benefit more from everyday reps in the minors. There, he could focus on refining his offensive approach. Ideally, by the time he returns to the big leagues, he’ll be ready to contribute consistently on both sides of the ball and earn a permanent spot on the Phillies’ roster.