The Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ season debut is Friday at Coca-Cola Park, which was voted the Best Minor League Ballpark as part of USA TODAY’s 10 BEST and its 2026 Readers’ Choice Award.

How good will the IronPigs be in their 19th season at Coca-Cola Park? As always, that depends largely on how things go with the Philadelphia Phillies, their parent club.

Lehigh Valley fifth-year manager Anthony Contreras talked during Wednesday’s media day about who will and will not be in uniform to start the Triple-A franchise’s season against the Toledo Mud Hens.

Here is a breakdown of who fans can expect to see and when:

‘One of the game’s best’: Phillies ace Zack Wheeler’s continued recovery and rehab from thoracic outlet syndrome continues Saturday when he starts for the IronPigs in a 4:35 p.m. first pitch. The right-hander is scheduled to throw three innings, though pitch count may affect that. He threw 29 pitches in a simulated game earlier this week.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a short leash,” Contreras said. “We’ll talk to him when he gets in town and see how he feels. I’m sure I’ll get some instructions from above on what to do with him.”

Wheeler last pitched in a Phillies game on Aug. 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C., against the Nationals. He had surgery in September before gradually building up to baseball activities and, finally, facing hitters on Monday in Florida.

“I’m sure this region will love getting to see Wheeler pitch in this stadium,” Contreras added. “I got to see him in spring training, see his progress. It’s pretty impressive to see what he went through and what he’s already able to do.”

Other starting rotation members: RHP Alan Rangel will start Opening Night at 6:05 p.m. Friday against Toledo. The 28-year-old Mexican native was 5-5 with a 4.55 ERA in 25 starts last season for Lehigh Valley. He also made his MLB debut on June 6 in Pittsburgh. Rangel had a 2.45 ERA in five appearances in 2025 with the Phillies.

RHP Ryan Cusick will start Sunday’s series finale at 1:15 p.m. He split time last season in the Athletics, Tigers and Phillies organizations. The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder was 2-0 with a 7.90 ERA in 19 games in 2025 with the IronPigs.

LHP Tucker Davidson, a 6-2, 215-pounder who spent parts of five seasons in the major leagues before pitching most of last season in Korea, also will be a starter at some point. He pitched four innings of live BP earlier this week in Florida.

The IronPigs, aside from Ranger Suarez’s two rehab starts, did not have a left-hander make a start in 2025. They went a stretch without a left-handed pitcher on the roster.

Second-year pitching coach Phil Cundari has three lefties on this year’s roster: Genesis Cabrera, Andrew Walling and Davidson.

He’s back: RHP Griff McGarry, the Phillies’ fifth-round pick in 2021 who was selected by the Nationals in December’s Rule 5 draft, was returned to the Phillies this week after not making Washington’s club.

McGarry posted a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts across three levels last season in the Phillies system. He will start this year in the bullpen after working in that role this spring in Nationals camp.

Watching, waiting: 1B-OF Keaton Anthony (broken foot), SS Aiden Miller (back), OF Gabe Rincones (knee) and OF Johan Rojas (drug suspension) will not be with the team to start 2026.

Anthony is just beginning the rehab process, so he is a ways away from playing. He slashed .323/.378/.484 in 82 combined games last season with Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading before suffering a season-ending injury on Aug. 2.

Miller started baseball-related activities earlier this week, so there is progress for the organization’s No. 1 prospect who spent all but eight games last year with Reading.

Rincones’ knee injury is the same one that hampered him last season, when the Phillies’ No. 8 prospect slashed .240/.370/.430 with 18 home runs and 80 walks in 119 games with the IronPigs.

“He’s kind of fighting through that stuff,” Contreras said, “taking it day by day. He has had some good days, some bad days. We’re just trying to be that sure that when he’s ready to go, he comes out there, he’s full-speed ahead and not having any hiccups.”

Rojas will miss the team’s first 80 games, per MLB’s suspension guidelines. He played in 35 games last season in Triple-A and 71 games with the Phillies.

Promising sluggers: Felix Reyes, who slashed .331/.362/.562 in 101 combined games last season between Lehigh Valley and Reading, starts in Triple-A this year after making a good impression in his first big league camp this spring. He batted .303 in Florida with a double, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 18 games with the Phillies.

“He opened a lot of eyes,” Contreras said. “He showed that he can be a middle-of-the-lineup bat and is versatile, putting him in the corner outfield spots, first base and DH. We’re going to utilize him the same way here.”

Bryan De La Cruz, a 29-year-old outfielder who split time last season between the Yankees and Braves organizations, comes to Lehigh Valley after being the Dominican Winter League MVP and batting .326 in 17 games this spring with the Phillies.

“Just watching his approach and watching him work in the outfield in trying to make himself better is encouraging,” Contreras said, “especially for the younger guys. You want to see the older guys putting in the time, putting in the work, improving their craft. It gives the younger guys motivation.”

Other pitching prospect: RHP Jean Cabrera, a 6-foot, 145-pounder who spent last season in Reading, will make his Triple-A debut this season. The Phillies’ No. 15 prospect had a 3.81 ERA in 26 starts last season in Double-A. He pitches with a lot of flare and emotion.

New at Coca-Cola Park in 2026: Keystone Outdoor Living Cabanas is a premium seating experience at the top of the lawn in left-center field. Each cabana accommodates 15 guests and features a mix of seating as well as standard cabana amenities: couches, TVs, and food and drink serving areas.

More on MiLB’s No. 1 stadium: The IronPigs became the fastest to 10 million fans last season, when it led MiLB in total attendance for the third year in a row.

Coca-Cola Park has led MiLB in either overall or average attendance nine times since opening in 2008. The IronPigs have averaged more than 8,500 fans per game, tops in the country, since their inception in 2008.

“This award is a testament to so many organizations and individuals who have proudly supported the IronPigs over the years,” President and General Manager Kurt Landes said. “A very sincere thank you goes to our employees, partners and guests who voted for us and who continue to attend games at Coca-Cola Park in record numbers. To be America’s No. 1 minor league ballpark is something our entire community can and should be proud of. The IronPigs are delighted to receive this honor, and it speaks to our mission of providing a positive and memorable experience for every guest, every time.”

2026 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Manager: Anthony Contreras, 5th year

Pitching coach: Phil Cundari, 2nd year

Assistant pitching coach: David Howell, 1st year

Hitting coach: Adam Lind, 2nd year

Bench coach: Chris Adamson, 3rd year

Coach: Ray Ricker, 1st year

PITCHERS (15)

No. Player; Ht.; Wt.; Bats; Throws; Age

54 Genesis Cabrera; 6-2; 180; L; L; 29

69 Jean Cabrera; 6-0; 145; R; R; 24

41 Ryan Cusick; 6-6; 235; R; R; 26

12 Tucker Davidson; 6-2; 215; L; L; 29

43 Connor Gillespie; 5-11; 185; R; R; 28

67 Jonathan Hernandez; 6-3; 190; R; R; 29

47 Nolan Hoffman; 6-4; 190; R; R; 28

50 Seth Johnson; 6-1; 205; R; R; 27

56 Griff McGarry; 6-2; 190; R; R; 26

55 Alan Rangel; 6-2; 170; R; R; 28

33 Trevor Richards; 6-2; 205; R; R; 32

39 Chase Shugart; 5-11; 200; L; R; 29

57 Lou Trivino; 6-5; 232; R; R; 34

44 Andrew Walling; 6-2; 220; L; L; 26

18 Bryse Wilson; 6-2; 255; R; R; 29

CATCHERS (3)

24 Paul McIntosh; 5-11; 220; R; R; 28

27 Rene Pinto; 5-10; 195; R; R; 29

16 Caleb Ricketts; 6-3; 225; L; R; 25

INFIELDERS (4)

00 Christian Cairo; 5-8; 185; R; R; 24

29 Carter Kieboom; 6-1; 221; R; R; 28

4 Robert Moore; 5-7; 170; S; R; 23

5 Liover Peguero; 6-1; 200; R; R; 25

OUTFIELDERS (4)

46 Bryan De La Cruz; 6-1; 175; R; R; 29

7 Cade Fergus; 6-2; 195; R; R; 25

0 Pedro Leon; 5-9; 170; 27

13 Felix Reyes; 6-4; 195; R; R; 24

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com