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Phillies spring training roster: A closer look at the players

Spring training workouts begin this week in Clearwater, Fla. Phillies beat writer Matt Breen takes a closer look at every player invited to camp.

What will Rhys Hoskins do for an encore? He arrives at spring training as a left fielder and a staple in the middle of the Phillies lineup.
What will Rhys Hoskins do for an encore? He arrives at spring training as a left fielder and a staple in the middle of the Phillies lineup.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Pitchers

RHP Drew Anderson (24): He pitched in just three games last season above double A, including two relief appearances with the Phillies. Anderson's likely ticketed for the triple-A rotation.

RHP Victor Arano (23): Pitched well as a September call-up after skipping triple A and could be a darkhorse for the final bullpen spot. Struck out 51 batters last year in 49 1/3 innings.

LHP Zac Curtis (25): Appeared in just three games after being claimed off waivers in September. Curtis is likely headed to triple A, a level he has never pitched at.

RHP Seranthony Dominguez (23): Will transition to the bullpen after racking up high strikeout numbers as a starter. His electric fastball and slider combination could play well in the later innings. Dominguez will likely start the year at double A.

RHP Zach Eflin (23): Missed most of last season with a shoulder injury after being sidelined a year earlier by knee pain. Needs to prove he's healthy during camp.

RHP Jerad Eickhoff (27): He admitted to pitching hurt last season, which could explain why his ERA and WHIP were inflated following a strong 2016 campaign.

RHP Luis Garcia (31): Garcia harnessed his high-90s fastball, and his walk rate and ERA both reached career lows. He has a power arm but needs to prove he can handle high-leverage situations.

RHP Tommy Hunter (31): Hunter saw a spike last season in his strikeout rate as he relied less on his four-seam fastball and more on his cutter and curveball. His signing helps solidify the late innings.

RHP Franklyn Kilome (22): Kilome will be a key piece of Reading's rotation, a collection of perhaps the most interesting group of starters in the system.

RHP Mark Leiter (27): He is a strong candidate to end camp as a long reliever, a role he tackled well last season as a rookie.

RHP Ben Lively (26): Lively made 15 starts for the Phillies last season and is in the mix for the final rotation spot.

LHP Hoby Milner (27): Milner had success as a rookie (2.01 ERA in 31 1/3 innings) and could carve a role as a LOOGY — a lefthanded, one-out guy — as he stifled lefthanded hitters last year.

LHP Adam Morgan (28): One of the best stories of last season after he flourished in the bullpen following a minor-league demotion. Morgan had a 2.48 ERA in his final 40 innings as he relied on his change-up.

RHP Hector Neris (28): He'll enter camp as the team's closer after converting each of his 20 save chances and posting a 2.61 ERA over his final 40 games.

RHP Pat Neshek (37): He was the team's lone all-star last summer and was solid with the Rockies after being traded at the deadline. Neshek is durable despite his age and is a key piece of a bolstered bullpen.

RHP Aaron Nola (24): The one young pitcher who looks like a sure thing. Count on him starting on opening day.

RHP Ricardo Pinto (24): Was solid as a triple-A reliever after being moved from the starting rotation, but that success never materialized in the majors as Pinto was roughed up. He's likely headed back to triple A.

RHP Nick Pivetta (25): His strikeout numbers (9.5 per nine innings) were impressive but his walks (3.9 per nine) need to be trimmed. Pivetta appears to be a rotation lock.

RHP Edubray Ramos (25): He responded to a midseason demotion by posting a 2.70 ERA and 37 strikeouts and six walks in 26 2/3 innings over his last 24 games once he was promoted. Ramos is a nice bullpen piece.

RHP Yacksel Rios (24): Ten of his 13 appearances were scoreless after reaching the majors last August. He struck out 17 batters in 16 1/3 innings but walked nine. Will be in the mix for a bullpen spot.

LHP Ranger Suarez (22): Should start the season in touted double-A rotation after finishing last year at high A.

RHP Jose Taveras (24): Started seven games for triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2017 with a 1.32 ERA. Pitched for Clearwater and Reading as well.

RHP Jake Thompson (24): Allowed one run or less in four of his five September starts but needs to limit his pitch count and lower his walk rate. Could be a candidate to move to the bullpen.

RHP Vince Velasquez (25): His ERA, strikeout rate, and walk rate each worsened in an injury-shortened and disappointing season. He's healthy now and the flashes he showed two years ago provide hope.

Catchers

Jorge Alfaro (24): He's out of options, all but assuring him a spot on the opening-day roster. His bat looked good last September but his work behind the plate remains a bit raw.

Andrew Knapp (26): His .368 on-base percentage ranked sixth among all catchers with at least 200 plate appearances. Consider Knapp the favorite for the second catcher spot.

Cameron Rupp (29): Only five catchers hit worse last season than Rupp's .217 average. He's a positive presence in the clubhouse, but is that enough to keep him from triple A?

Infielders

Eliezer Alvarez (23): The Phillies acquired him last September and he's likely headed to double A.

J.P. Crawford (23): Crawford reports to spring training as the starting shortstop after Freddy Galvis was traded. The Phillies need him to be a star.

Maikel Franco (25): This is Franco's season to prove he should be in the team's plans. Another disappointing season and the Phillies will be tempted to look elsewhere.

Cesar Hernandez (27): Hernandez has a .372 on-base percentage over the last two seasons and is under club control for three more seasons. Perhaps he's a good trade chip once Scott Kingery arrives.

Tommy Joseph (26): Joseph will likely be moved before the season or start the year in triple A. Finding playing time at first base will be hard after the Phillies signed Carlos Santana.

Carlos Santana (31): The team's biggest free-agent signing in years gets on base at a high rate and can hit for power. Manager Gabe Kapler has been thinking all winter of the perfect spot in the lineup for him. Maybe second?

Jesmuel Valentin (23): He'll report to camp healthy after missing most of last season with shoulder surgery. The Phillies will either keep him as a utility infielder or send him to triple A for regular playing time.

Outfielders

Aaron Altherr (27): Altherr was nagged in the second half by a hamstring injury. A platoon role with Nick Williams could help keep him fresh.

Dylan Cozens (23): He has 380 strikeouts in his last 269 minor-league games. Cozens has serious raw power, but he needs to get on base more and drastically limit his strikeouts.

Odubel Herrera (26): Herrera slashed .322/.368/.526 over his last 47 games. Now he just needs to stretch that over an entire season.

Rhys Hoskins (25): It will be tough to match the excitement he brought last season but it will be interesting to see what Hoskins can do in a full season. He'll spend most of spring training fine-tuning his work in left field.

Roman Quinn (24): The fastest player on the 40-man roster has a real chance to make the team as a reserve outfielder. He's injury prone and a bench role could be the perfect job.

Nick Williams (24): Williams looked like he belonged as a rookie but his biggest task will be cutting back that 28-percent strikeout rate.

Non-roster invitees

Pitchers

RHP Pedro Beato (31): He reached the majors last year for the first time in three years but injured a hamstring after facing just two batters. He'll return to triple A and likely work again as the closer.

RHP Enyel De Los Santos (22): Acquired for Freddy Galvis, De Los Santos struck out 138 batters and walked just 48 last season in 150 double-A innings.

RHP Tom Eshelman (23): He has a chance to break camp as the fifth starter after ending last season at triple A. Eshelman walked 18 batters in 150 innings last season between double A and triple A.

RHP Steve Geltz (30): He's suspended for the first 100 games after failing his third drug test.

RHP J.D. Hammer (23): Registered a 0.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and two walks in 15 2/3 innings at high-A Clearwater after coming over in a trade with Colorado. Will start season in double A bullpen but could move quickly.

LHP Cole Irvin (24): Will likely return to double A rotation after posting a 4.06 ERA there last season in 84 1/3 innings.

LHP Brandon Leibrandt (25): Went unselected in the Rule 5 draft after posting a 3.62 ERA between double A and triple A. Will likely start season in IronPigs rotation.

RHP Francisco Rodriguez (36): The former all star closer and 16-year veteran is trying to prove he has something left after an awful season.

Catchers

Edgar Cabral (22): Ended last season by batting .310 with a .819 OPS in 84 at-bats in high A. He'll start the season either there or in double A.

Matt McBride (32): Would be a neat story for the Lehigh Valley native if he opened the season with the IronPigs.

Logan Moore (27): He's spent the last three seasons between double A and triple A and has a good rapport with the organization's young pitchers.

Infielders

Ryan Flaherty (31): Played just 23 games last season with Baltimore due to a shoulder injury. He has played every position except catcher and will compete for a utility role.

Scott Kingery (23): He will start the season at triple A before likely joining the Phillies by mid-June. He hit 26 homers last season after combining for eight in the previous two seasons.

Heiker Meneses (26): He gives the organization some infield depth at triple A.

Will Middlebrooks (29): Played just 32 major-league games over the last two seasons and has yet to come close to replicating his .288/.325/.509 rookie campaign in 2012. Will compete for utility role.

Adam Rosales (34): Batted just .225 last season with a .260 on-base percentage in 105 games. Can play almost every position and will be in the mix for utility role.

Mitch Walding (25): Hit 25 homers last season at double A but will need to prove it wasn't a fluke once he leaves hitter-friendly Reading.

Outfielders

Pedro Florimon (31): Broke an ankle last September but will report to spring training with a real shot at that utility role. Can play the infield, too.

Danny Ortiz (28): Made his major-league debut last season with Pittsburgh and will give the team some outfield depth at triple A.

Andrew Pullin (24): The jump to triple A was not a good one as Pullin batted just .231 with a .280 on-base percentage in 67 games. He'll likely head back for a chance to redeem himself.