Phillies Begin Minor League Roster Trimming

For the second consecutive week, you can read breaking news of Phillies’ minor league cuts here on Phillies Nation and PhoulBallz.com first.

Before we get to the cuts, the “Baby Aces” have all been assigned to farm teams for the 2012 season. Brody Colvin will begin the year at Class-A Clearwater, while Trevor May, Jonathan Pettibone, and Julio Rodriguez all go to double-A Reading.

Outfielders Tyson Gillies and Jiwan James

join them there, as will Sebastian Valle.

Larry Greene Jr. and Roman Quinn, the top two picks for the Phillies in the ’11 draft, have not been assigned, meaning they could see time at extended Spring Training.

According to Matt Gelb of the Philadephia Inquirer, the team has signed Chin-lung Hu to a contract. He’ll provide some depth at triple-A as an infielder.

Early Sunday morning, the following players were informed that the Phillies no longer required their services: Luis Unda, Ian Durham, Paul Cusick, Chase Johnson, Juary Gomez and Rye Davis.

Unda (pictured, right), a 22-year-old infielder had been signed by the Phillies in 2008 and played as high as Class A Lakewood, where he went 0-for-8 in 3 games played last season. The Venezuelan native was a member of the Phils’ championship Gulf Coast League team in 2010.

Durham, 23, was drafted in the 29th round in 2011. The righty pitcher went 1-0 with a 3.62 ERA and 2 saves in 18 appearances for the Gulf Coast League Phillies last year.

Cusick, a 23-year-old right-hander, was drafted last year as well, a 28th rounder. In 18 combined appearances (1 start) with the GCL team and Williamsport in 2011, the University of Penn product went 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA.

Johnson (pictured, left), a righty reliever that was selected in the 21st round of the 2009 draft, had a respectable season with Class A Lakewood in 2011 (4-6 record, 4.31 ERA, .268 batting average against). As the closer for short-season Williamsport in 2010, Johnson was a New York-Penn League All-Star. Johnson will turn 24 years old next month.

Gomez, a native of Venezuela, had a very good campaign last year for Williamsport, as the team’s closer. In 28 relief appearances, Gomez went 4-1 with 10 saves and a 2.84 ERA. The right-hander was signed by the Phillies back in 2008. Gomes turns 22-years-old in May.

Davis, a Western Kentucky grad, was also signed as a non-drafted free agent last year. In 17 combined relief outings with the GCL team and Lakewood, he posted a 1-1 record with 2 saves and a 2.33 ERA. Davis turned 23 years old over the off-season.

If more news becomes available on players released from Phils’ camp, you can read about it right here.

I’ve also learned that five other players have been released from Phillies’ minor league camp. Three pitchers and two others were among the cuts.

Fabian Cota and Robert Cooper, both southpaws, and righty Jack Van Leur were casualties of the latest round of cuts. In addition infielder Geancarlo Mendez and first baseman Michael Marshall have been let go as well.