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The first Phillies lineup of 2018 and three things to know

Baseball has returned as the Phillies will play today. The opponent: the University of Tampa.

Phillies catcher, Andrew Knapp will bat leadoff today against the University of Tampa.
Phillies catcher, Andrew Knapp will bat leadoff today against the University of Tampa.Read moreJOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Baseball has returned as the Phillies will play today, albeit against a college team. But it is still baseball. Here's a look at today's lineup against the University of Tampa:

  1. Andrew Knapp, catcher

  2. J.P. Crawford, shortstop

  3. Tommy Joseph, first base

  4. Nick Williams, left field

  5. Scott Kingery, second base

  6. Adam Rosales, third base

  7. Dylan Cozens, right field

  8. Logan Moore, designated hitter

  9. Danny Ortiz, center field

Jerad Eickhoff will start for the Phillies, who plan to use nine pitchers. The game will start at 1:05 p.m. and will be streamed online here by the University of Tampa.

Three things to know:

–Andrew Knapp appears to enter camp as the favorite to be the team's second catcher, alongside Jorge Alfaro. Knapp last season reached base at a high rate and regularly worked deep counts, two things the Phillies love. He's batting leadoff today, and it might not be too crazy to think manager Gabe Kapler would try the same thing in the regular season. The Phillies have never had a catcher bat first.

–Scott Kingery will play second base today, but he will move around the infield during spring games and maybe even play center field. He's the second baseman of the future, but he might not arrive to the majors as a second baseman.

–Most of Nick Williams' playing time this season will come in right field, a position he will share with Aaron Altherr. But he will also see time in left when Rhys Hoskins moves to first base. Williams played most of his time in the minors as a left fielder and said he's confident he can play all three outfield positions.