Major League Baseball returns to the UK this weekend with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies reigniting their fierce rivalry in London.
The 2024 MLB London Series will showcase top baseball stars at the revamped London Stadium, accompanied by an enticing selection of American food.
If you’re ready with your tickets, cap, and shirt, here’s a rundown of key players to watch, with insights from Phillies legend Chase Utley.
Philadelphia Phillies
Bryce Harper, First Baseman
A major name in baseball, Harper is known for his homerun prowess and has been crucial to the Phillies’ recent achievements. Starting as a top draft pick with the Washington Nationals, he signed a massive $330 million, 13-year deal with the Phillies in 2019. Harper has twice won the NL MVP award, in 2015 and 2021, and led the Phillies to the World Series in 2022.
Kyle Schwarber, Designated Hitter
Schwarber’s role is to hit and run, excelling as a left-handed power hitter. He led the NL with 46 home runs in 2022 and improved to 47 in 2023. Tied for the fourth-most postseason home runs in history, Schwarber is a thrilling player to watch at bat.
Bryson Stott, Second Baseman
A rising star, Stott has excelled at second base after moving from shortstop. In three MLB seasons, he’s hit 30 home runs, 141 RBIs, and scored 167 runs. Interestingly, he’s friends with former Arsenal defender Rob Holding and supports Crystal Palace.
Alec Bohm, Third Baseman
A promising young talent, Bohm was a third overall pick in the 2018 draft. He set career highs in 2023 with 20 home runs, 31 doubles, and 97 RBIs.
Zack Wheeler, Starting Pitcher
Former Met Wheeler joined the Phillies in 2020 and has become a top pitcher. In four seasons, he achieved 675 strikeouts in 629 ⅓ innings, earning a new three-year, $126 million contract.
Aaron Nola, Starting Pitcher
A longtime Phillies player, Nola debuted in 2015 and re-signed with the team after becoming a free agent, securing a seven-year, $172 million deal.
J.T. Realmuto, Catcher
Renowned for his defensive and hitting skills, Realmuto is one of the top catcher/hitters of his generation. In 2022, he became only the second catcher in AL/NL history to post 20-plus home runs and 20-plus steals in a season.
OUT OF ACTION – Trea Turner, Shortstop
Turner, one of MLB’s fastest players and a former batting champion, may miss the London series due to a hamstring injury. However, there’s a chance he might recover in time to join the team.
Phillies Key Man
Chase Utley highlighted Harper and Schwarber as pivotal players, praising their power and ability to lead the team through challenging stretches. Utley also mentioned other notable players like Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, and Alec Bohm, expressing excitement about their skills and contributions.
Philadelphia icon and World Series Champion Chase Utley spoke to talkSPORT about the Phillies’ London trip preparations:
“There are a handful of players I can identify, but Bryce Harper comes to mind as No.1. A two-time MVP, he’s an extremely talented player from a very young age. He was a No.1 draft pick and has had success pretty much every year in the major leagues. He’s turned himself into one of the best players in his generation.
“You can then look to shortstop at Trea Turner, who is a super athlete. He plays a great shortstop, he gets the power, he can really do it all on a baseball field. He’s one of the fastest guys in the league so he creates a lot of excitement on the baseball field. “And then you have some pitchers, Zack Wheeler, extremely hard fastball, he’s been pretty dominant over the last few post-seasons, so he’s exciting to watch. “But I gravitate towards hitters a little bit more because I was one, and Alec Bohm is a third baseman, young, up-and-coming player who has established himself now as the star of the youth levels, so he’s fun to watch. “And of course there’s Kyle Schwarber, a big powerful bat.”
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