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  • Ranking the Phillies’ top 10 prospects: Key question, 2026 outlook for each

    Ranking the Phillies’ top 10 prospects: Key question, 2026 outlook for each

    Across baseball, 211 rookies made 250 plate appearances or pitched at least 65 innings in a season since 2023.

    None were Phillies.

    The only Phillies rookies who even came close to those thresholds were Orion Kerkering in 2024 and Otto Kemp last season. Kerkering was a 1.6 WAR player as a middle reliever; Kemp was slightly below replacement level as a utility man, based on Baseball-Reference’s WAR calculation, while playing through injuries.

    And that, plus a two-month flash of promise from Johan Rojas in 2023, represented the farm system’s last three graduating classes.

    The Phillies are sticking with a veteran core in 2026. But this time the kids have to play, too.

    This year should be different — two rookies are in line to win jobs out of camp. Justin Crawford is the presumptive opening-day center fielder, and Andrew Painter could be in the season-opening rotation.

    And indications are that 21-year-old infielder Aidan Miller might not be far behind.

    “You never know,” farm director Luke Murton said recently. “He’ll be a big-league spring training invite. You bring him in and see what we’ve got. We’ll see where the roster ends up throughout the year. But from a talent standpoint, from a readiness standpoint, the ones that are really good, they always are ready a little sooner than you think they are.”

    It’ll be important for the Phillies to infuse the major-league roster with youth but also to develop more talent in the lower levels of the system, where trades of teen prospects Eduardo Tait (for Jhoan Duran), Starlyn Caba (for Jesús Luzardo), and William Bergolla (for Tanner Banks) thinned the A-ball ranks over the last 18 months.

    With pitchers and catchers due to report for spring training two days after the Super Bowl, ‘tis the season for prospect rankings. Baseball America recently put Miller (No. 14), Painter (No. 32), and Crawford (No. 75) among its top-100 prospects. ESPN ranked the Phillies as the 17th-best farm system in baseball.

    So, let’s present The Inquirer’s preseason ranking of the Phillies’ top 10 prospects, an annual exercise carried out with input from opposing scouts.

    Aidan Miller has emerged as the Phillies’ top prospect since getting drafted in the first round in 2023.

    1. Aidan Miller, SS

    Age: 22 (on June 9) | Height/weight: 6-2 / 210 | Bats/throws: Right

    2025 stats: .259/.382/.427, 13 homers, 52 steals, 14.9% walk rate, 23.7% strikeout rate at double-A Reading (489 plate appearances); .333/.514/.519, 1 HR, 7 SB, 24.3% BB rate, 18.9% K rate at triple-A Lehigh Valley (37 PA).

    Outlook: Two years after a broken bone near his left wrist caused him to fall into the Phillies’ lap with the 27th overall pick in the draft, Miller keeps getting better. Not only did he thrive at shortstop when many evaluators believed he would have to move to third base, but he sharpened his contact rate to go with extra-base power from the right side. Then, last season, he surprised even Murton by swiping 59 bases to lead the organization. One NL scout said Miller has “All-Star upside.” All that remains is …

    Key question: How quickly can he learn third base?

    As a shortstop, Miller’s path to the Phillies is clogged by Trea Turner, who had a defensive renaissance last season. Murton said the Phillies will expose Miller to third base in spring training. But it’ll be interesting to see how much third base he actually plays, and how fast the Phillies push him if he starts hot in triple A and/or Alec Bohm falters again in April. Dave Dombrowski called up Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers to help contending Red Sox teams in 2016 and 2017. It’s easy to see him doing the same with Miller.

    Andrew Painter struggled at times in triple-A last season after missing the previous two years with an elbow injury that required surgery.

    2. Andrew Painter, SP

    Age: 23 (on April 10) | Height/weight: 6-7 / 215 | Throws: Right

    2025 stats: 3.97 ERA, 0.971 WHIP, 2.2% walk rate, 26.7% strikeout rate at low-A Clearwater (11⅓ innings); 5.65 ERA, 1.547 WHIP, 9.7% BB rate, 23.4% K rate at Lehigh Valley (106⅔ IP).

    Outlook: OK, so Painter’s grand return after missing two years with a torn elbow ligament that required Tommy John surgery was rougher than even the Phillies expected. Rather than being ready for his major-league debut by “July-ish,” as Dombrowski famously predicted, Painter struggled in triple A. But he did stay healthy, making 26 starts and working 118 innings. And, well, “You hear a lot of statistics of what guys do their first year out of Tommy John,” Murton said, “and how much better the second year goes.”

    Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter stayed healthy, but ‘didn’t do everything I wanted to this year’ in triple A

    Key question: How much better will Painter actually be?

    More specifically, will Painter’s fastball command return to preinjury levels? Many rival evaluators “cut him some slack,” as one NL scout said, in reaching triple A for the first time after the two-year absence. “I think it was just injury- and rust-related,” said the scout, who still projects Painter as a No. 2 starter in the majors while “maintaining an appropriate level of concern for the command.” Maybe it’ll help if the Phillies throw Painter into the big-league fire right away. And if Zack Wheeler isn’t ready for opening day, they probably will.

    Justin Crawford won a batting title in the triple-A International League last season.

    3. Justin Crawford, CF

    Age: 22 | Height/weight: 6-1 / 175 | Bats/throws: Left/right

    2025 stats: .334/.411/.452, 7 HR, 46 SB, 11.5% BB rate, 18% K rate at Lehigh Valley (506 PA).

    Outlook: As the son of former All-Star Carl Crawford and a first-round draft pick out of high school in 2022, Crawford has long been destined for the majors. And after hitting .300 at every level of the minor leagues and winning a batting title last season in the International League, he’s about to get his chance. As Dombrowski said, “I don’t know what else he really does at the minor league level at this point.”

    What about Justin Crawford’s hitting style makes him such a polarizing prospect

    Key question: Does he hit too many balls on the ground?

    Crawford’s detractors cite a 59.4% ground-ball rate in triple A that would’ve easily led the majors ahead of Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich (56.7%). But given Crawford’s elite speed, one NL scout questioned whether all the ground balls are such a bad thing. “Hopefully it doesn’t matter,” Lehigh Valley hitting coach Adam Lind said. “His approach works right now. His swing works to where he can hit the ball all over the yard.” And Crawford is adept at putting the bat on the ball, which would bring a different dimension to a Phillies’ offense that features a lot of swing and miss.

    Gage Wood was the Phillies’ first-round draft pick last season.

    4. Gage Wood, SP

    Age: 22 | Height/weight: 6-0 / 210 | Throws: Right

    2025 stats: 4.50 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 22.2% BB rate, 55.6% K rate at Clearwater (2 IP).

    Outlook: It’s hard to top getting drafted in the first round and signing for $3 million, but the highlight of Wood’s 2025 season was throwing a 19-strikeout no-hitter for Arkansas in the College World Series. He made two pro starts before the end of last season, including a rough first inning in the playoffs, and figures to open this year in the rotation at Clearwater.

    Key question: Long-term, is he a starter or a reliever?

    Wood was in the bullpen through most of his college career before starting as a senior. The Phillies intend to use him as a starter to develop his multiple breaking pitches. But Wood’s path to the big leagues might be quicker as a reliever, especially given his power fastball. Eventually, his role will depend on how his slider and changeup develop relative to his nasty curveball.

    Phillies infield prospect Aroon Escobar had a strong first half of the season last year at low-A Clearwater.

    5. Aroon Escobar, 2B/3B

    Age: 21 | Height/weight: 5-11 / 180 | Bats/throws: Right

    2025 stats: .285/.377/.452, 11 HR, 10 SB, 10.1% BB rate, 16.1% K rate at Clearwater (316 PA); .256/.348/.369, 4 HR, 14 SB, 11.1% BB rate, 20.7% K rate at high-A Jersey Shore (198 PA); .182/.250/.273, 0 HR, 0 SB, 8.3% BB rate, 25% K rate at Reading (24 PA).

    Outlook: After a blazing start last season (.322 average, eight homers through May), he “hit a touch of a wall” in his first full pro season, Murton said, and slumped to .237 the rest of the way. The Phillies challenged him with two promotions, including a late-season cameo with Reading, where he was among the youngest players in the Eastern League. Despite his listed weight, he’s probably closer to 210 pounds, so he’ll need to stay on top of his conditioning.

    Key question: What’s his ceiling as a hitter?

    After playing mostly second base last season, Escobar will likely get time at third to increase his versatility, according to Murton. But his bat will carry him as far as he goes. The Phillies believe his right-handed swing will continue to produce high-contact skills and power to the gaps. One AL evaluator compared him to the Astros’ Isaac Paredes as a hit-first infielder capable of playing multiple positions.

    Phillies outfield prospect Dante Nori led the farm system last season with 577 plate appearances.

    6. Dante Nori, CF

    Age: 21 | Height/weight: 5-10 / 190 | Bats/throws: Left

    2025 stats: .262/.363/.381, 4 HR, 37 SB, 13.1% BB rate, 14.9% K rate at Clearwater (502 PA); .279/.396/.326, 0 HR, 13 SB, 15.1% BB rate, 15.1% K rate at Jersey Shore (53 PA); .190/.227/.286, 0 HR, 2 SB, 4.5% BB rate, 9.1% K rate at Reading (22 PA).

    Outlook: Another hitter with a high contact rate and speed, Nori rose quickly through the system in his first full pro season after getting drafted in the first round in 2024. The son of longtime NBA assistant coach Micah Nori, he trains in the offseason with Kyle Schwarber and has drawn praise for his advanced approach at the plate.

    Key question: Can he be an everyday center fielder?

    Nori might be more of a true center fielder than Crawford, depending on which scouts you ask. One NL evaluator said Nori has a “[Johnny] Damon-esque ceiling,” but noted that he’s undersized, in the mold of Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick. Maybe that’s why another NL scout wondered if Nori is more realistically a fourth outfielder in the majors unless he develops more power at the plate.

    Phillies pitching prospect Moisés Chace is recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery last year.

    7. Moisés Chace, SP

    Age: 23 (on June 9) | Height/weight: 6-1 / 213 | Throws: Right

    2025 stats: 3.24 ERA, 1.620 WHIP, 16% BB rate, 25.3% K rate at Reading (16⅔ IP).

    Outlook: Chace came from the Orioles in a deadline trade in 2024 and immediately rose up the Phillies’ prospect ranks. But he didn’t throw much going into camp last spring, tore an elbow ligament early in the season, and had Tommy John surgery. He isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the season.

    Key question: What’s his best role in the majors?

    If he stayed healthy, Chace might have reached the majors last season, likely as a reliever. It’s still possible the bullpen will be his best path, with an effective fastball-slider combination. But before the Phillies can plan on him in any role, they must see if his stuff plays as well as it did before surgery.

    Phillies outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. hit 18 homers last season in triple A.

    8. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF

    Age: 25 (on March 3) | Height/weight: 6-3 / 225 | Bats/throws: Left/right

    2025 stats: .240/.370/.430, 18 HR, 21 SB, 15.8% BB rate, 22.5% K rate at Lehigh Valley (506 PA)

    Outlook: Rincones followed a promising spring training with a poor first half. But he hit 10 home runs after the All-Star break and stayed healthy all season, then was added to the 40-man roster. His struggles against left-handed pitching are pronounced (.107 average/.323 OPS last season). But it’s easy to see him getting a chance to contribute in the majors this year.

    Key question: Will he ever figure out lefties?

    Probably not. And that’s OK with the Phillies, who like what they’ve seen from Rincones vs. righties and believe he can be the strong side of an outfield platoon. One problem: They already have a player like that in Brandon Marsh.

    9. Matthew Fisher, SP

    Age: 20 (on March 14) | Height/weight: 6-3 / 200 | Throws: Right

    2025 stats: None.

    Outlook: Fisher was committed to pitching in college at Indiana until the Phillies drafted him in the seventh round and gave him second-round money. They signed Fisher for $1.25 million, the largest bonus ever paid to a seventh-round pick. Rather than making his pro debut late last season, Fisher went to the Phillies’ fall instructional camp.

    Key question: Will the Phillies’ big bet pay off?

    According to Baseball America, Fisher has a four-pitch mix that includes a curveball and slider. He also has superior athleticism, as a former All-State quarterback in Indiana. And he likely will begin his pro career in Clearwater, pitching in the same rotation as Wood and sharing the spotlight.

    10. Francisco Renteria, OF

    Age: 17 | Height/weight: 6-3 / 216 | Bats/throws: Right.

    2025 stats: None.

    Outlook: It’s a reflection of the state of the Phillies’ farm system that Nos. 9 and 10 on this list haven’t made their pro debuts. Renteria headlined the Phillies’ international amateur class, signing two weeks ago for $4 million, tied with former outfield prospect Jhailyn Ortiz’s club record.

    Key question: Will the Phillies finally have an international superstar?

    Check back in about five years. Renteria will begin his pro career in the Dominican Summer League and isn’t likely to play stateside until at least next season. The Phillies haven’t had much luck chasing their Ronald Acuña Jr. or Juan Soto. Renteria showed promise in Venezuela and on the youth circuit, including showcases in the U.S. with Perfect Game. But there’s a long way to go before the projection turns into reality.

  • Source: Eagles hire former Bucs OC Josh Grizzard as pass game coordinator

    Source: Eagles hire former Bucs OC Josh Grizzard as pass game coordinator

    The first domino after the Eagles hired Sean Mannion to be their next offensive coordinator has dropped.

    The Eagles are hiring former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard to the role of pass game coordinator, a source said. Grizzard, 35, was in the mix for Mannion’s job and had multiple interviews with the Eagles for the offensive coordinator role.

    Grizzard was the offensive coordinator and called plays for one season after joining the Bucs in 2024 as a pass game coordinator. Before Tampa Bay, he worked with Mike McDaniel in Miami and was with the Dolphins under Adam Gase, too.

    Grizzard has been a fast riser, though not quite as fast as Mannion. He played at Yale and was a student coach there, too. He was hired to David Cutcliffe’s staff at Duke as a 23-year-old and was there for four seasons as a graduate assistant and then a quality control coach before leaving for the NFL.

    What the Sean Mannion hire as Eagles offensive coordinator says about Nick Sirianni’s future

    This past season was Grizzard’s first calling plays full-time, and he oversaw a steep drop-off in Tampa after former coordinator Liam Coen departed for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bucs, however, dealt with multiple key injuries. Grizzard was in charge of third-down play calling in 2024 as the pass game coordinator. That season, the Bucs led the NFL in third-down conversion rate (51.1%).

    Nick Sirianni said the Eagles’ goal during this search was to make sure the offense continued to “evolve.” They have now hired two outside voices to key positions.

    It’s unclear what Grizzard’s hire means for Parks Frazier, who was the pass game coordinator under Kevin Patullo. More changes could be coming to the staff as the Eagles try to revamp their offense.

    Staff writer Jeff McLane contributed reporting to this story.

  • TikTok star Shirley Raines, known for bringing meals and respect to people on Skid Row, dies at 58

    TikTok star Shirley Raines, known for bringing meals and respect to people on Skid Row, dies at 58

    Shirley Raines, a social media creator and nonprofit founder who dedicated her life to caring for people experiencing homelessness, has died, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said Wednesday. She was 58.

    Ms. Raines was known as “Ms. Shirley,” to her more than 5 million TikTok followers and to the people who regularly lined up for the food, beauty treatments, and hygiene supplies she brought to Los Angeles’ Skid Row and other homeless communities in California and Nevada.

    Ms. Raines’ life made an “immeasurable impact,” Beauty 2 The Streetz wrote on social media.

    “Through her tireless advocacy, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, she used her powerful media platform to amplify the voices of those in need and to bring dignity, resources, and hope to some of the most underserved populations,” the organization said.

    Ms. Raines’ cause of death was not released, but the organization said it would share additional information when it is available.

    Ms. Raines had six children. One son died as a toddler — an experience that left her a “very broken woman,” Ms. Raines said in 2021 when she was named CNN’s Hero of the Year.

    “It’s important you know that broken people are still very much useful,” she said during the CNN award ceremony.

    That deep grief led her to begin helping homeless people.

    “I would rather have him back than anything in the world, but I am a mother without a son, and there are a lot of people in the street that are without a mother,” she said. “And I feel like it’s a fair exchange — I’m here for them.”

    Ms. Raines began working with homeless communities in 2017. On Monday, Ms. Raines posted a video shot from inside her car as she handed out lunches to a line of people standing outside her passenger window. She greeted her clients with warm enthusiasm and respect, calling them “King,” or “Queen.”

    One man told her he was able to get into an apartment.

    “God is good! Look at you!” Ms. Raines replied, her usual cheerfulness stepping up a notch. In a video posted two weeks earlier, she handed her shoes to a barefoot child who was waiting for a meal, protecting the girl’s feet from the chilly asphalt.

    California’s homelessness crisis is especially visible in downtown Los Angeles, where hundreds of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks in the notorious neighborhood known as Skid Row. Tents regularly pop up on the pavement outside City Hall. Encampments are increasingly found in suburban areas under freeway overpasses. A 2025 survey found that about 72,000 people were homeless on any given night across Los Angeles County.

    Crushow Herring, the art director of the Sidewalk Project, said Ms. Raines was both sentimental and protective of the homeless community. The Sidewalk Project uses art and peer empowerment programs to help people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

    “I’ve been getting calls all morning from people, not just who live in Skid Row but Angelenos who are shocked” by Ms. Raines’ death, Herring said. “To see the work she did, and how people couldn’t wait to see her come out? It was a great mission. What most people need is just feeling dignity about themselves, because if they look better, they feel better.”

    Ms. Raines would often give people on the street a position working with her as she provided haircuts or handed out goods, Herring said.

    “By the time a year or two goes by, they’re part of the organization — they have responsibility, they have something to look forward to,” he said. “She always had people around her that were motivational, and generous and polite to community members.”

    Melissa Acedera, founder of Polo’s Pantry, recalled joining Raines every Saturday to distribute food when Beauty 2 The Streetz was first getting started. Ms. Raines remembered people’s birthdays and took special care to reach out to transgender and queer people who were often on the outskirts of Skid Row, she added.

    “It’s hard not to think of Shirley when I’m there,” Acedera said.

    In 2025, Ms. Raines was named the NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Social Media Personality. Other social media creators lauded her work and shared their own grief online Wednesday.

    “Ms. Shirley was truly the best of us, love incarnate,” wrote Alexis Nikole Nelson, a foraging educator and social media creator known as “blackforager.”

  • A coastal ‘bomb’ and single-digit temperatures are expected this weekend in the Philly area

    A coastal ‘bomb’ and single-digit temperatures are expected this weekend in the Philly area

    It remains a long shot that a fresh layer of frosting will coat the hardening and tenacious snowpack, but evidently that street-congesting frozen mass isn’t exiting in the near future.

    As of Friday morning, it appeared that a potent coastal storm that is expected to qualify as a meteorological “bomb” was going to spare the Philadelphia region from another snowfall.

    But it is expected to have serious impacts on the New Jersey and Delaware beaches, with a combination of onshore gales and a tide-inciting full moon, forecasters are warning.

    On the mainland, it is poised to generate winds that would add sting to what has been one of the region’s most significant outbreaks of Arctic air in the period of record.

    Lows at Philadelphia International Airport both Thursday and Friday mornings — 13 and 11, respectively — were several degrees above what was forecast.

    But they are to drop into single digits Saturday morning, and flirt with a record. Wind chills during the weekend are expected be in the 10-below range, said Mike Silva, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

    “Even though there might not be much or any snow in Philly,” he said, “it’s going to be cold, and we’re still going to have the wind impacts.”

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    Is the snow threat off the table for Philly?

    Computer models continue to keep the storm far enough off the coast to preclude a major snowfall inland.

    But “it wouldn’t take much of a jog west to really mess up the forecast,” said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. It’s been known to happen.

    On Friday morning, the National Weather Service was posting a 30% chance that Philly would get something measurable — technically 0.1 inches — Saturday night into Sunday, with about a 10%shot at an inch.

    The weather service was expecting an inch at the Shore, but with a slight chance of several inches.

    Forecasters are certain that a storm is going to blow up off the Southeast coast as frigid air that is penetrating all the way to Disney World interacts with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

    Gusts at the Shore during the day Sunday might be as high as 40 mph as the storm could reach “bomb” status.

    What exactly is a ‘bomb?’

    Two brave souls endure the snow and winds from a meteorological bomb cyclone in Atlantic City in January 2022.

    The technical definition of a meteorological bomb is a drop in central barometric pressure of 0.7 inches in a 24-hour period, about a 2% to 3% change in the weight of the air. That might not seem like much, but it’s a big deal if you’re a column of air.

    Such a drop in pressure indicates a rapidly developing storm. Air is lighter in the centers of storms, as precipitation is set off by lighter warm air rising over denser cold air.

    As a weather term, bomb first appeared in an academic paper in 1980 by atmospheric scientists Frederick Sanders at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and John Gyakum at McGill University.

    They found that the western Atlantic, in the proximity of the Gulf Stream, was one of two regions on the planet most prone to bombs. The other was the area near the Kuroshio Current in the far northwestern Pacific.

    Both are massive reservoirs of warmer waters that interact with cold air coming off land masses. Some of the European settlers in the colonial era learned about the effects the hard way, experiencing mega-storms that were alien to areas in England.

    Gyakum, who was Sanders’ graduate student at MIT, recalled Thursday that the duo took some blowback for using the word bomb.

    But with a cyclone of such ferocity, the term was worth using to draw the public’s attention to potential impacts, which sometimes exceed those of hurricanes, Gyakum said.

    He said he had no doubt this weekend’s storm would reach bomb status.

    While any heavy snows from this storm are likely to bypass the Philly region, some accumulating snow is possible the middle of next week, Kines said, although nothing in a league with what happened Sunday.

    When can Philly expect a thaw?

    Temperatures during the coming workweek are due to moderate, at least slightly, with highs around freezing Monday through Thursday, 10 to 12 degrees warmer than what is expected this weekend.

    The cold “certainly eases up,” Kines said.

    But that 9.3 inches of snow and sleet that accumulated Sunday evidently has taken a particular liking to the region. As for when it will disappear, he said: “It’s going to take a while.”

    The overall cold upper-air pattern looks to persist, said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s long-range forecaster. And the extensive snow cover is going to have a refrigerant effect on temperatures.

    So when will it warm up and go away?

    “We’ll find out Monday,” Kines said. He was referring to Groundhog Day, of course, when Punxsutawney Phil will issue his extended forecast.

    Nevertheless, he said, meteorologists will be on call if needed.

    “It never hurts to get a second opinion,” he said.

  • How the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams stepped up after weather halted the Mummers Parade

    How the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams stepped up after weather halted the Mummers Parade

    Frank Gumienny is a lifelong Philadelphian, so when he heard that the annual Mummers’ string band competition was postponed due to high winds on New Year’s Day, he wanted to help.

    Gumienny, who grew up in Port Richmond cheering on the Polish American String Band and has been the chief operating officer for the Eagles since 2023, called Sam Regalbuto, president of the String Band Association, on New Year’s Day to see if a makeup event would be possible. It would, but the string bands needed an outdoor venue to host their competition.

    “I was like, ‘Wow, we have probably the biggest and most well-known outside venue in Philadelphia,” Gumienny said.

    Gumienny and the Eagles were able to offer Lincoln Financial Field to host the 2026 String Band Spectacular. The event, which is open to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. at the Linc on Saturday.

    Julianna Bonilla (middle) and Stanley Wells (right) kiss after being officially married by Hegeman String Band captain Kelliann Gallagher (left) during this year’s Mummers Parade.

    The show will give the string bands an opportunity to perform their four-and-a-half minute shows in front of judges and compete.

    “They’ve been preparing all year,” Gumienny said. “They prepare 12 months to perform this on New Year’s Day. It’s a Philadelphia tradition. So we try to make sure that they can take everything that they’ve practiced all year and show off.”

    When Gumienny let the Eagles’ neighbors in the South Philly sports complex know that the Linc would be hosting the string bands, the other teams were eager to help. The Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers all made financial contributions to help stage Saturday’s show, and the Union chipped in from Chester to help cover some costs.

    “The other sports teams were like, ‘How can we contribute? How can we be a part of it?’” Gumienny said. “There are costs associated, obviously, with doing this. … A lot of people don’t understand all the costs that go on behind the scenes. And, obviously, the string bands [are] on, call it a tight budget. So we wanted to do whatever we can.”

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    The bands will perform on a stage on the Eagles sideline. The string bands will play toward the crowd, which will be seated in the lower level on the western side of the stadium. Gumienny said he’s estimating between 8,000 and 10,000 spectators will come to the Linc for the showcase, despite the cold weather in the forecast.

    However, one of the 14 bands, Avalon String Band, said it is withdrawing from the event due to the weather. It is unclear if others will join them.

    “With extreme cold predicted for this weekend, our top priority is the health and safety of our members, and the forecasted conditions may put them at risk,” the band posted on Facebook.

    Saturday will not be the first time Mummers have performed at the Linc. When the stadium hosted WWE’s WrestleMania XL in April 2024, a gaggle of string band members accompanied Seth Rollins as he entered the ring in a Mummers costume, playing a jauntier version of Rollins’ theme song.

    Love for the Mummers was also front and center during one of the most iconic moments in recent Eagles history, as Jason Kelce gave a colorful speech while wearing an equally colorful Mummer suit after the team’s 2018 Super Bowl victory.

    “I think it just highlights Philadelphia,” Gumienny said. “The spirit of Philadelphia, the pride of Philadelphia, the passion … The pride and passion of Philadelphia always shines, and I think things like the Eagles, our local sports teams, are always highlighted in this. And then, obviously, things like the Mummers parade that really coincide with what Philadelphia is.”

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    Former Eagles center Jason Kelce pauses during his colorful Super Bowl parade speech on the Art Museum steps while dressed in Mummers attire.

    While all 14 string bands were able to march during the parade on New Year’s Day, the weather forced them to abandon their planned routines, and sent five people to the hospital. The postponement was the first in the parade’s 125-year history. Saturday’s event will give the bands an opportunity to show off their originally planned routines, which take months of planning and preparation.

    “I’ve had a member of the Quaker City String Band reach out and just say, ‘Look, thank you so much, we put a lot of hard work in to do this, and to be able to showcase it at the stadium is awesome,’” Gumienny said. “It’s been super positive, and they’ve been super appreciative and such a good partner to work with. For us and our staff, we get to do something a little bit new and unique to us. But anything that shows off Philadelphia and shows off the stadium, we love it.”

    For Gumienny, the chance to host the string bands is personal, too. In addition to his fond childhood memories of enjoying Port Richmond’s Polish American String Band, his late father-in-law was a captain of the Harrowgate String Band.

    “Back as a little kid, I used to remember either going down to the parade or watching it on TV,” Gumienny said. “It doesn’t get much more Philly than the Mummers.”

    Spectators looking to attend the String Band Spectacular can purchase general admission tickets through Ticketmaster. The event will be broadcast by WFMZ-TV, the same channel that broadcasts the parade on New Year’s Day.

  • The Curtis Institute vows to rebuild the beloved Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square

    The Curtis Institute vows to rebuild the beloved Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square

    A temporary shrink-wrap covering has been draped over the Art Alliance building as damage is being assessed. The Curtis Institute of Music, which owns the historic, jewel-box structure on the southeast edge of Rittenhouse Square, is in the early stages of dreaming about the building’s eventual use.

    Curtis had only recently taken over the Art Alliance, when, in the early hours of July 4, a blaze broke out that took more than 120 firefighters to extinguish. The building’s roof was largely destroyed, and other portions of the building were severely damaged by fire, smoke, and water.

    The fire marshal categorized the cause of the fire as undetermined, and Curtis isn’t expecting to ever arrive at an answer.

    “We haven’t thought much about it in a few months because it just hasn’t come up,” said Curtis chief financial officer Chris Dwyer, who is overseeing the building rehabilitation process. “What I’m concluding is that the damage is so bad that there’s no answer with a capital A.”

    At the Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square, a detail of a memorial to Alliance founder Christine Wetherill Stevenson, on the first floor, Jan. 27, 2026. The building, owned by the Curtis Institute of Music, was damaged in a fire early on the morning of July 4, 2025.

    At the time of the fire, Curtis was overseeing modest repairs and cleaning and transferring archival materials from the building to other institutions, with an eye toward being able to host a few small community gatherings, a school spokesperson said.

    A full damage assessment is due shortly, and while it’s already clear that some historic elements of the interior survived, it is not yet known whether others were lost.

    “The whole front of the building is more intact than you might have thought, but [there is] definitely a lot of water and smoke damage,” Dwyer said. “But things like the staircase is still there, the stained glass window [on the south side] is essentially intact.”

    Curtis aims to incorporate the surviving historic elements into the design of a rehabilitated building, he said.

    What exactly the renowned music conservatory will use the 15,000-square-foot building for is an open question at the moment.

    “We’re definitely constrained as far as teaching space, rehearsal space, performance space, and places to welcome the community,” said Dwyer.

    Looking through charred timbers and a destroyed section of the attic and roof to the underside of the shrink-wrap covering over the Art Alliance building, Jan. 27, 2026.

    The fire has left the configuration of the building slightly changed. The third floor included an attic that was destroyed by the fire, which raises the possibility that a reconstructed third floor will offer higher ceilings than before.

    VSBA Architects and Planners has been engaged to assess damage and develop some preliminary concepts for eventual reuse. The firm designed Curtis’ nearby Lenfest Hall on Locust Street, and has a long track record in historic preservation work.

    Though reuse plans are still developing, some public-use element seems likely, Dwyer said.

    “We’d love for the building to be used year-round. We’d be open to partnerships and rentals and maybe some new imaginative public programming. So it’s definitely on our minds that it would be public and in some way, shape, or form.”

    A detail on the first floor of the Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square shows some historic elements saved, others damaged, Jan. 27, 2026.

    A timeline is far from certain, but if various elements fell into place quickly enough, the building — which was built in 1906 — could reopen by summer or fall of 2028, leaders say.

    Curtis is aware of the place the Art Alliance holds in the hearts of many — “of all the nostalgia and the memories of the building that folks in the community cherish,” said Dwyer. “I was at a wedding there in the late ’90s. It seems like everyone has been in that building at least once.”

    It has a “pretty special character that we think is possible to bring back.”

    Curtis conducted a special fundraising campaign to acquire the building for $7.6 million from the bankruptcy estate of the University of the Arts. The conservatory and its insurance company are working toward arriving at a payout for the damage, but Curtis may want to do more to the building than simply what the insurance would cover.

    That would mean more fundraising.

    “It’s hard to see how we wouldn’t need to raise funds,” said Dwyer.

  • Six potential Eagles draft targets who are rising after the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl

    Six potential Eagles draft targets who are rising after the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl

    MOBILE, Ala. — Across seven practices and two cities, hundreds of draft prospects participated in the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowls to kickstart the NFL draft evaluation process.

    NFL scouts, general managers, and executives from nearly all 32 teams got a close look at players that will soon fill their rosters. At least five Eagles scouts attended the Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, and a handful of personnel, including chief security officer Dom DiSandro, made the trip to Mobile.

    With just Saturday’s Senior Bowl game (2:30 p.m., NFL Network) left from the All-Star circuit, here are six prospects we monitored that could be targets for the Eagles:

    Eagles’ Clint Hurtt discusses coaching the Senior Bowl and his interview for the Dolphins DC job

    Shrine Bowl

    Devon Marshall, DB, N.C. State

    Marshall, who began his career at Villanova, only practiced for two days but rarely allowed completions across the one-on-one and team sessions. The 5-foot-10, 197-pound cornerback challenges wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, can easily flip his hips in coverage, and has excellent recovery speed if a receiver gets a step ahead of him.

    Over the last two seasons at N.C. State, Marshall has forced 24 incompletions, including nine against Florida State alone. Marshall’s anticipatory skills breaking on underneath routes and his ability to turn and run vertically with wide receivers made him one of the best corners across both All-Star games.

    If the Eagles are looking to add a secondary player on Day 2 of the draft, Marshall would be a worthy candidate to compete for a role opposite Quinyon Mitchell at corner.

    Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

    Wisniewski, who started his career as a linebacker, had a standout season with Texas Tech after missing the 2024 season for North Dakota State. The 6-3, 214-pound safety is physical at the catch point, is at his best playing a middle-of-the-field safety role, and can provide tight man coverage when matched up with tight ends.

    His versatility to line up at several spots in the secondary is a strength. During the first day of practice, he aligned in the box at linebacker, as a slot defender, and even as a deeper safety, with his instincts and coverage ability shining most when driving on routes from depth.

    Safety is a sneaky need for the Eagles with Reed Blankenship set to become a free agent. Wisniewski would bring some much-needed size in the secondary and is a willing and sound tackler in space.

    Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah

    Bentley, who only played five snaps of high school football before an injury ended his career, was a pleasant surprise at the Shrine Bowl after putting up career-highs in catches (48), yards (620), and touchdowns (6) in 2025. Up close, Bentley, who was mostly a reserve tight end in 2023 and 2024, looked fluid as a route runner and did not drop a pass in the one-on-one and team sessions.

    The standout Utah tight end already has a strong foundation in blocking, and in a draft class with few true three-down tight ends, Bentley could be of value. With Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra both set to become free agents, the Eagles will likely need to dip into the tight end class, and Bentley would be a worthy prospect to take early on Day 3 of the NFL draft.

    Forged in Philly, Southern Cal linebacker Eric Gentry breaks the mold at East-West Shrine Bowl workouts
    Illinois defensive lineman Gabe Jacas saw his stock rise at the Senior Bowl.

    Senior Bowl

    Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

    The defensive linemen on the American team at the Senior Bowl feasted on the offensive linemen, and Illinois standout Jacas was among them. The 6-3, 260-pound densely framed edge rusher has heavy hands to knock back offensive linemen and has enough wiggle to beat tackles on their outside shoulder.

    During Senior Bowl media day, Jacas told The Inquirer that teams view him more as a defensive end who sets the edge and rushes the passer as opposed to an outside linebacker, which typically requires coverage drops. His skill set matches that, with the power to push the pocket and the ability to reduce down inside at three-technique to beat interior offensive linemen.

    With the uncertainty of the edge rusher room beyond Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt, Jacas would be a perfect complement with his power profile to pair with Hunt and Smith’s speed off the edge.

    Gennings Dunker, OT/OG, Iowa

    Coming into the week, Dunker was among the highly anticipated players participating in Senior Bowl practice, and played both tackle and both guard spots throughout the week. Dunker was a three-year starter at right tackle for Iowa, displaying the power to displace defensive linemen in the run game and anchoring down against power rushers.

    He lacks the foot quickness and recovery ability to last at tackle, and that likely played a factor in his getting interior lineman snaps. Dunker looked much more natural as a guard, where his powerful hands and leg drive can shine against players who typically offer less twitch and space to maneuver around him.

    The potential guard and tackle versatility would intrigue the Eagles, who could be looking to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. Dunker has immediate run blocking upside and can be a long term answer at either guard or tackle for the Birds.

    Rayshaun Benny, DL, Michigan

    One of the week’s pleasant surprises, Benny, who had 35 tackles (three for loss) and 1½ sacks in 13 games, was one of the top players at his position in Mobile. He has strong hand usage and an explosive first step to get around opposing offensive linemen, though his production doesn’t always match the skill set he possesses.

    After a journey from Division II to the CFP title game, Levittown’s David Blay sets his sights on the NFL

    Throughout the practice week, Benny, a squatty defensive tackle (6-3, 296 pounds), was unblockable, using hand swipes, swim moves, and showing stack and shed ability across multiple defensive line spots.

    Interior defensive line isn’t a pressing need currently for the Eagles, but adding Benny can bring more depth and playmaking ability to a group led by Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

  • Photo essay: Philly gets inked at Villain Arts Tattoo Festival

    Photo essay: Philly gets inked at Villain Arts Tattoo Festival

    Villain Arts Tattoo Festival, held at the Convention Center last weekend, celebrated the art of tattooing, brining together hundreds of the world’s best tattoo artists and their fans. Numerous vendors showcased everything from industrial supplies to clothing, artwork, and jewelry.

    Marisa Miller, of Palymyra, Pa., has a tattoo done by Flash Padilla, also of Palmyra, Pa., at the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival on Jan. 24.
    Flash Padilla, works on Marisa Miller’s tattoo.
    Su’a Sulu-ape Si’i Liufau (center), of Garden Grove, Cali., does a traditional Polynesian tattoo with the help of Lousua Filoi (left) and Max Stimac, of A-Town Tattoos.
    Su’a Sulu-ape Si’i Liufau, does a traditional Polynesian Tattoo with the help from Lousua Filoi (left) and Max Stimac of A-Town Tattoos.
    Alexandra Fische, of Ben Salem, is tattooing Daneka Hoopaugh, of Atlanta, Ga., who has been waiting for years to get tattooed by Fische.
    Jesse Probus, of Whitehall, Pa., with Sick Ink Studios, tattoos a heart surrounded by tentacles on Abby Zeiseo, also of Allentown.
    Cezar Walerski, of Allentown, Pa., tattoos the head of Nick Onea, also of Allentown.
  • Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid to the rescue, Giannis rumors, and more from win over Kings

    Sixers takeaways: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid to the rescue, Giannis rumors, and more from win over Kings

    Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid saved the 76ers from another embarrassing loss.

    But for a while, the on-court action was secondary because of a report that Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to play with Maxey.

    And in the end, the Sixers did manage to win consecutive games at Xfinity Mobile Arena for the first time in over a month.

    Those three things stood out in their 113-111 victory in front of 18,608.

    Avoiding disaster

    Maxey and Embiid reentered the game with the Sixers (26-21) down, 100-92, with 8 minutes, 13 seconds remaining.

    Zach LaVine scored on a three-point play to put the Kings (12-37) up 11 points with 7:44 left.

    That’s when Maxey and Embiid combined to score the Sixers’ final 21 points to avoid a loss to the Kings, a team that is now tied for the NBA’s worst record.

    Maxey capped the scoring barrage with a layup to put the Sixers up two points with 1.3 seconds left. He was also fouled on the play, but intentionally missed the free throw. And the Sixers escaped with the two-point victory after LaVine misfired on a heave with 0.3 left.

    Five reasons the Sixers should be cautious at the NBA trade deadline

    Maxey finished with a game-high 40 points, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter. Embiid scored 10 of his 37 points in the final quarter. Each player had eight assists.

    “Well, I think that’s kind of what you fear a little bit going into this game happened,” coach Nick Nurse said. “I think we are pretty lucky, to be honest with you, that we got out of there with a W.

    “I mean, you know, it’s like not very good on the glass, not very good in transition, not very good on defense. And they just started building confidence, right?”

    Sixers center Joel Embiid reacts after guard Tyrese Maxey made the game-winning basket against the Kings.

    The Sixers were outrebounded, 46-24, only had three transition points, and gave up 54.2% shooting to a struggling team playing without Malik Monk (right ankle soreness), Keegan Murray (sprained left ankle), and Russell Westbrook (right foot soreness).

    The Sixers have a habit of playing down to struggling opponents, which has led to a few embarrassing losses. While they expected Thursday night to be different, it was much of the same against a Sacramento squad that had lost six straight entering the game.

    Sixers forward Paul George (left) and Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe double team Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis.

    “We did a good job,” Maxey said. “We played kind of resilient. We knew we had to go in there and make a run, quick, and we did that.”

    Maxey was asked if he agreed with Nurse that the Sixers were lucky.

    “I feel like sometimes you got to be lucky,” he said. “It happens. It’s 82 games in the season. We didn’t play great by no stretch of the imagination. But we are going to take the W. I’d rather win the game and learn the lessons after than lose it.”

    But Embiid didn’t see it as a lucky victory. He thinks the Kings are better than their record.

    “They got a lot of talent,” Embiid said. “You look at DeMar [DeRozan], Zach, [Domantas] Sabonis. I mean, those are great players. They have a bunch of others. So they haven’t been healthy all season. So I think they are better than whatever their record says.

    “But I think this is luck. Obviously, this is the NBA. Every team has NBA players.”

    Joel Embiid hopes the Sixers’ roster remains intact beyond the NBA trade deadline

    Giannis, anyone?

    Two hours before the game started, arena employees were discussing the possibility of Antetokounmpo coming to Philly.

    Right before tip-off, a fan asked if it would be wise to include VJ Edgecombe in a package to acquire Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Stein Line reported that the Sixers never contacted the Bucks about a possible deal for the two-time All-Star. However, the report said the possibility of playing with Maxey has the Sixers on Antetokounmpo’s radar.

    The problem is, aside from Maxey and Edgecombe, the Sixers don’t have the assets to acquire a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. And they’re not trading either of those guys.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe reaches for a loose ball as Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder looks on.

    Plus, despite his love for Maxey, the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as the preferred destinations for the superstar. Yet that didn’t stop the infatuation with acquiring the nine-time All-NBA selection from taking much of the shine off Thursday’s game.

    Back-to-back home wins

    With their second straight home win, the Sixers improved to 14-13 at home. The last time they won consecutive home games was against the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 12 and Dec. 20, respectively.

    “No disrespect to them because they really do have good players and they played well tonight,” Nurse said of the Kings. “Again, I just didn’t like a lot of our defensive mentality and our rebounding mentality. I think it really let them hang around.

    “So I wouldn’t say that was a great game for us. It’s a line drive in the box score, and it’s a W. So we’ll take it. But I think we got another similar team coming in on Saturday.”

    The New Orleans Pelicans, who are 12-27 and tied with the Kings for the NBA’s worst record, are Saturday’s opponents.

    “It feels like a long time,” Maxey said of getting consecutive home victories. “But that’s an achievement, man. We struggled at home, and we are trying to get better … We are just going to keep trying to get better.”

  • 🧊 Snow-go | Morning Newsletter

    🧊 Snow-go | Morning Newsletter

    It’s Friday, Philly, and still very, very cold.

    The end of the week brought an attempted post-snow return to normal, with Philadelphia students back at school. But the deep freeze — and many of the problems that come with it, including icy, unshoveled sidewalks — will remain through the weekend.

    And some restaurateurs are coping with rising food prices by charging you less. Learn how that works, below.

    — Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Baby, it’s (still) cold outside

    How well did the city navigate this week’s winter storm? Well …

    🧊 Some Philly sidewalks remain unshoveled, now more than four days after the snow fell. The city is responsible for many of them, including walkways outside government-owned buildings, in parks, and near SEPTA stops. Many smaller streets are still unplowed, too.

    🧊 City schools reopened Thursday after days of virtual learning. Some students returned to snowbanks, burst pipes, and frigid classrooms.

    🧊 Ice in the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers signals problems for the Philadelphia Water Department, which draws its drinking water from intakes along the waterways. The department also warns that the extreme cold is causing city water mains to burst — around 150 so far this month.

    🧊 Next up: There’s an outside chance of snow in Philly this weekend. And temperatures in the city are forecast to be well below freezing, with lows near zero.

    What you should know today

    ‘You can only charge so much for a taco’

    As food costs rise, eating out has gotten more expensive. That doesn’t mean restaurants are making more money.

    Some Philly-area eateries are adjusting their menus to reduce overhead or prices in a bid to attract diners. They say it’s more about getting creative with ingredients than shrinking portions.

    Regional restaurant group Harvest Seasonal Grill, for instance, has cut out garnishes and swapped in a less-expensive scallop pasta dish in place of seared scallops served whole, among other changes.

    After an adjustment period, lower check averages have come with higher customer counts and revenue, Harvest’s founder told The Inquirer — “and we didn’t sacrifice quality.”

    Restaurant reporter Mike Klein has the story.

    In other food news: Amazon plans to lay off nearly 1,000 Amazon Fresh employees in the region at the end of April as it closes the grocery stores. Three of Di Bruno Bros.’ five locations will close in the coming weeks, including one in Center City. And the McGlinchey’s name and building, which closed last summer, are now on the market.

    Plus: Why is Dexter, the U.S. Navy’s last working horse, buried in Philly?

    Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

    This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer on Naval Square, where the U.S. Navy’s last working horse is buried. The beloved Dexter worked for two decades in the middle of the 20th century at the Graduate Hospital site, then a home for retired sailors.

    At his funeral in 1968, Taps was played on trumpet as his nine-foot casket was lowered by crane on the grounds. Here’s the full story.

    Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which 57-year-old Philadelphia dive bar is both responsible for popularizing the Citywide and hosting the city’s longest-running drag show?

    A) Dirty Franks

    B) Locust Rendezvous

    C) El Bar

    D) Bob and Barbara’s

    Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

    What we’re …

    🦊 Remembering: When John du Pont killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in Newtown Square on this week in Philly history.

    🎥 Watching: Philadelphia, among the new selections to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

    📣 Cheering: The first Philly public elementary school to compete in national cheer finals.

    🍫 Slurping: Hot chocolate at these seven cozy spots in the city.

    🐕 Anticipating: The Simpsons’ 800th episode, which takes place in Philly and features Questlove.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: South Jersey resort hub (two words)

    TINY TACTICAL

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Richard Freeman, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Gladwyne. A plan to redevelop the Lower Merion community has residents split on their town’s future. What happens next?

    Plus: A Gladwyne estate that can be split into three lots is for sale for $8.5 million. Take a look inside.

    Photo of the day

    Todd Bolin (left), from Daytona Beach, Fla., and Paul Pascone (right), from Los Angeles, have an Independence National Historical Park ranger take a photo of them outside Independence Hall on Thursday.

    🔓 One last revived thing: Independence Hall reopened Thursday following a four-month preservation project. Reporter Mike Newall chatted with visitors from near and very far about what brought them to the hallowed halls of history.

    Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Paola has you covered this weekend.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.