While the Phillies enter the 2023 season with most of their spots decided, several players could still take some of the last spots on the roster, and many Minors players in camp are fighting for playing time at Lehigh Valley or positioning themselves for early season promotions. Here are some of the most notable:
Weston Wilson - Stock Up (5 G, 7 AB, 2 R, 4 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .571/.667/1.571)
Wilson probably doesn’t have much of a shot still to make the team out of Spring Training, but his torrid start to the Spring has brought him from being just a name in the crowd to someone worth keeping at eye on as time goes on. A powerful super-utility type, Wilson, 28, failed to build on a strong AAA debut in 2021 with a disappointing 2022 that saw Milwaukee let him reach Minor League free agency, but he certainly hasn’t looked the part so far in Spring.
Jake Cave - Stock Up (5 G, 14 AB, 3 R, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1/0 SB/CS, .429/.467/.857)
A busy offseason saw Cave land in Baltimore via waivers, then join the Phillies by the same method after a split-contract play by the Orioles failed. Known as a glove-first player, Cave’s ability to play CF lead to his claiming by the Phillies, but his torrid start at the plate in Spring Training could see him make the club’s 26-man roster.
Michael Plassmeyer - Stock Up (2 G, 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 2 K)
As I am writing this Plassmeyer is dealing again, but even before today Plassmeyer had made a statement in just three innings. Coupled with a “meh” first start from Bailey Falter and Andrew Painter’s injury, he’s already boosted his stock quite a bit in the SP5 battle.
Kody Clemens - Stock Up (6 G, 14 AB, 3 R, 5 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .357/.400/.786)
The “other” piece in the Phillies offseason trade for Gregory Soto, Clemens was rumored to be a favorite for a bench role from the time the trade transpired, and after a strong start to Spring action he’s unequivocally 3rd in line for utility work on the infield behind Edmundo Sosa and Josh Harrison.
Dalton Guthrie - Stock Down (5 G, 14 AB, 1 H, 0/1 SB/CS, .091/.091/.091)
An eye for an eye, a soul for a soul. Clemens and Guthrie are naturally intertwined as they are likely battling for the same roster spot, and Clemens’s rise is as much about Guthrie’s fall as it is his own performance. Guthrie can certainly still pass Clemens back for a bench spot, but the massive gap that’s already formed between their two battling lines shows that hill will be a tough one to climb.
Andrew Vasquez - Stock Up (3 G, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K)
Just fighting to survive on the 40- and 26-man rosters thanks to his out-of-options status, journeyman waiver-claim Vasquez has made a statement thus far in camp, mowing down batters with ease. He still faces an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, but so far he’s aced every test.
Símon Muzziotti - Stock Down (5 G, 11 AB, 1 H, 1/0 SB/CS, .091/.091/.091)
Muzziotti could take an Opening Day roster spot as a reserve OF or even take starts from someone like Nick Castellanos, but his woeful start to the Spring means time could already be running out for him to grab that role.
Darick Hall - Stock Up (5 G, 12 AB, 3 R, 4 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, .333/.467/.667)
Hall’s early success in camp has further tightened his grip on a spot on the team’s Opening Day roster (and, most likely, a starting berth at DH or 1B).
Connor Brogdon - Stock Up (3 G, 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 4 K)
Brogdon entered camp very likely to make the Opening Day roster, but his optionability and past inconsistency makes him still liable to be sent down. However, a perfect start to the Spring has given him even more of a grip on a bullpen spot.
Griff McGarry - Stock Down (1 G, .1 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 1 K)
McGarry’s got the stuff to be a great MLB player, but his Spring debut showed just how far he has to go with his command.
Nick Nelson - Push (1 G, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 1 K)
Nelson is in contention for a starting spot, but has only thrown one inning so far.
Scott Kingery - Stock Up (5 G, 10 AB, 1 R, 4 H, 1 RBI, 1/0 SB/CS, 3 BB, .400/.538/.400)
Vimael Machín - Stock Up (6 G, 10 AB, 3 H, 1 2B, 2 RBI, .300/.300/.400)
Will Toffey - Stock Up (6 G, 10 AB, 1 R, 3 H, 1 2B, .300/.300/.400)
Kingery, Machín, and Toffey face more or less the same long odds to make the Opening Day roster, but all three have performed well so far, particularly Kingery.
Ben Bowden - Stock Down (3 G, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 ER, 3 K)
Bowden was never much of a threat to make the team, but he could be at risk of release thanks to his disastrous start to the Spring and the glut of pitcher’s currently lined up to pitch for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Jake Jewell - Stock Down (3 G, 2.2 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 K)
Jewell's in the same boat as Bowden after a disastrous appearance yesterday.
McKinley Moore - Stock Up (2 G, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 3 K)
It’s hard to take much from small pitching samples at this point in the spring, but Moore, who will likely start at AAA, has looked good so far. It’s very unlikely he cracks the Opening Day roster, but it’s not impossible and if nothing else he can position himself for an early promotion with more strong outings.
Andrew Baker - Stock Down (2 G, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 ER, 2 K)
Like McGarry, Baker’s early work shows he’s farther away from the Majors than might have otherwise been expected.
John Hicks - Stock Up (5 G, 11 AB, 1 R, 4 H, 1 2B, 1/0 SB/CS, .364/.364/.455)
Combining power and speed at catcher, Hicks is the sort of catcher the Phillies like. He’s probably not in play for an Opening Day spot, but he could move up the depth chart at C and 1B with a strong Spring, or perhaps entice another club to trade for him (a la Austin Wynns last year).
Addendum - Noah Song
Song was still in the Navy when camp started, and while we can’t draw any real conclusions as to where he stands so far, he must be mentioned at least this once because he is now a factor in the pitching picture.
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