“It’s been fun to play for the past three weeks,” Realmuto said, adding: “This is probably the best group of friends I’ve ever played with. And I think that shows when we’re out there. “
His comments echoed throughout the clubhouse.
“At the beginning of the year, if you asked a bunch of people, or baseball professionals, if they thought we were going to be in the World Series, they would probably say no,” Castellanos said. “So given the fact that we’ve been able to do this as a team and come this close, we’re two wins away from being the best team in North America. It’s just a building block. And now you look at all the kids here and the veterans too, now have experience after this season and it’s just a good thing going forward. “
All of the Phillies’ key players will return in 2022. The team has a club choice over right-hander Aaron Nola, who has thrown 205 innings this season. It is a given that the group will choose it. Less certain is second-base club selection Jean Segura. The team could move this year’s short leg, Bryson Stott, past second base and run in one of the marquee’s short stints expected to be on the market like Xander Bogaerts (Phillies President on baseball activity Dave Dombrowski was in Boston with the Bogaerts when they won the 2018 World Series together) or Trea Turner.
Harper notes now “it will be the same team next year with a few more pieces added, I imagine. Dave Dombrowski is our guy.” He also added that owner John Middleton, who has said several times this fall that Harper’s $330 million is being underpaid, “understands that we want to win and he wants to win now too, now.” . So I imagine we’ll be on the same team with some added pieces to make us better. “
Until then, the bitterness of losing the World Series will be tempered by warm memories of a singular team that has gone further than anyone could have imagined.
Hoskins, for one, said he will remember “how much fun we had together, man. I do not know. There’s a lot of talent in this room, but I don’t know that this is necessarily the most talented team people have ever seen. But I think we found a way to come together as a team when we needed it most throughout the season, and in the post-season, time and time again. I think that’s what we should all be most proud of if, just to find out what a real team feels like and how powerful that power can become in some key moments. this important. “
“And it’s just the beginning, isn’t it?” Castellanos added. “I know we are all really excited. I can stand here today and say I’m really excited for spring practice.”
