Susdorf is one of the many players the Phillies have added to their role call late this Spring. He has the best chance of any to see any time with the Phillies in 2013. Photo: MiLB.com
If you have caught any of the Phillies Spring Training games this year, you likely have seen a player enter a game that you have never heard of. The Phillies have used 68 players in Spring action this year and have added a crop of folks according to their transaction page that you may see with the big club in the Spring. Some of them will receive very brief consideration regarding a potential 2013 call-up, however most are getting a quick look while the starters are resting or playing in minor league games to avoid seeing division rivals. Here’s a guide to those players:
Added on 3/1/2013
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 24
MLB Spring Stats: 1/3 IP, 1 K
Nesseth is part of the suddenly large contingent of University of Nesbraska Cornhuskers in the Phillies minor league rolls. Nesseth got his only out via strikeout this Spring. He turns 25 this April and, after finishing as Clearwater’s closer with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.261 WHIP, Nesseth will likely get a shot Reading this year.
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Position: RHP Reliever
Age; 23
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Paulino is a 6’1″ righty from the Dominican Republic. Paulino spent four years in rookie ball struggling to find a bat before converting to a reliever. In 64 IP at Lakewood, Paulino was pretty pedestrian (7.8 K/9 IP, 3.1 BB/9 IP, 4.04 ERA) and will need to accelerate his development as a pitcher to get the best look possible. Paulino has four years of service time meaning the Phillies have two service years to figure out if they believe he will be worth keeping – unfortunately for Paulino, he missed the entire 2011 season due to injury. Look for Paulino to possibly start the year in Clearwater.
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Position: Corner Outfield
Age: 26
MLB Spring Stats: 0-1, 1 K
Mitchell was a 23rd round pick in 2005 and has been a bit of a late bloomer. After a rather surprising 2011 (.265/.326/.443 with 19 HR and 20 SB as a 24 year old in Reading), Mitchell couldn’t quite duplicate his successes at the next stop (.218/.279/.353 with 7 HR and 8 SB) as he struggled with injuries. Mitchell is a nice organizational player who could fill in in a pinch much like Jason Pridie did last season.
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Position: Center Field
Age: 23
MLB Spring Stats: 0-0, 1 inning played in Center
James struggled with injuries last year and recently noted on Twitter that he is battling a knee injury. James had a career high six home runs in 2012 but saw drops in each of his triple-slash categories and his stolen base efficiency (only 8 for 16 after a 31 of 47 campaign the year before). If James returns to the field this season, look for him to start in Double-A Reading at age 24.
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Position: Shortstop
Age: 22
MLB Spring Stats: 0-0, 1 inning played at shortstop
Duran’s bat has incrementally improved at each stop, so do not let his career .239/.285/.310 Minor League line scare you away right away. The Phillies will have to let Duran get a lion’s share of the playing time at short at Reading this year as they will either have to protect him or let him become a Minor League free agent after this season. Duran’s calling card is defense but watch his bat: he had a career high in doubles, triples, and homers last season. Duran has a big frame for 5’11” and could probably add 5-10 lbs to his listed 155 lbs easily to add power and not lose anything defensively or speed-wise.
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Added on 3/5/2013
Position: Catcher
Age: 24
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Rupp was the Phillies third round pick in 2010 and is very quietly developing a powerful bat. While many want to talk about Tommy Joseph or Sebastian Valle, Rupp should start the year in Reading after a very nice .267/.345/.424 with 10 HR for Clearwater in 2012. Yes, he was older for the level but he has earned the call to Reading and may get the bulk of the playing time there should Joseph earn the call to play in Lehigh Valley every day.
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Added on 3/14/2013
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 25
MLB Spring Stats: 1 IP, 1 K
Shreve was a sixth round pick by the Phillies out of the College of Southern Nevada after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Shreve relies heavily on locating a high 80s fastball and a high 70s change-up. Shreve had a return trip to Lakewood last year but parlayed that into promotions to Clearwater and Reading. He couldn’t match his strike out success he had found in A and A+ ball (7.1 and 9.2 K/9IP) in his first trip through Reading (6.1 K/9 IP) and he really struggled keeping runners off the basepaths in Reading ( 1.581 WHIP). Shreve will likely start the year in Reading next season.
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Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 27
MLB Spring Stats: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 HR
Whatcott was a 2010 graduate from the University of Utah, selected in the 31st round of the draft by Anaheim in 2009, but signed with the Phillies after going undrafted in 2010 . Whatcott’s first professional season was 2010, where at age 24, he, by default, was older than the level he was playing at. However, Whatcott has excelled and was a 2012 Eastern League All-Star for Reading. Whatcott has an incredible story, that saw him turn down scholarship offers to instead volunteer in Brazil, where he learned Portuguese, and come back two years later and earn a degree at Utah while playing baseball for them after a two year absence from the game. Whatcott has, for all intents and purposes, three years left before the Phillies have to make a decision on whether or not to tender him another Minor League contract and he will likely start the year in Reading.
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Position: Catcher
Age: 32
MLB Spring Stats: 0-1, K
Suomi has had an exciting Spring, filling in for Russell Martin as a last-minute replacement on Team Canada for the WBC. Suomi was an inaugural IronPig in 2008 and has hit .263/.323/.399 in nearly 3,000 career Minor League PA. Suomi has been primarily a back-up Minor League catcher throughout his career and  he will likely assume that role for the IronPigs again at least until Chooch returns.
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Added on 3/15/2013
Position: LHP Reliever
Age: 23
MLB Spring Stats: 0-1, 1 IP, 27.00 ERA
Johnson is a 6’2 lefty from Texas Tech who earned the call to Reading last year after starting the year in Lakewood. Johnson struck out 9.4 per 9 IP last year at Reading but struggled to keep runners off the base paths (1.779 WHIP). A return trip to Reading to start the year barring any development is likely what Johnson has in store.
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Position: LHP Reliever
Age: 26
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
There have been two Minor Leaguers to be named “Brendan Lafferty” – with the signing of this “Brendan Lafftery”, the Phillies now have had both of them in their ranks. This Lafferty, not to be confused with the 2004 Phillies draft pick, is a 6’3 lefty from UCLA that spent four years in the Royals organization. He has been older for each level he has pitched at and has seen his K/BB ratio shrink as he progressed to each level. Lafferty has a shot to stick as a lefty bullpen piece in Reading.
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Ryan O’Sullivan
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 22
MLB Spring Stats: 1 IP, 18.00 ERA
O’Sullivan was the main piece that came the Phillies way in the trade that made Joe Blanton a Los Angeles Dodger. O’Sullivan threw 99.2 IP last year, by far a career high, and will likely start the year in contention for a spot in Reading after a strong 2012 across two levels (2.98 ERA, 1.194 WHIP).
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Added on 3/18/2013
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 22
MLB Spring Stats: 1 IP, 27.00 ERA
Murray turned heads last year by posting a 0.882 WHIP after his call-up to High-A Clearwater with an impressive 11.1 K/9 IP. Murray was a 2011 13th round pick out of Kansas and will likely start the year with Clearwater, but an assignment to Reading is not out of the question.
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Added on 3/21/2013
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 23
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Neris, like Murray above, turned heads with good K numbers (10.8 K/9 IP) in Clearwater in 2012 in his first season in full season ball. Neris limits base runners well (1.131 WHIP) and should get every opportunity to pitch his way into the Reading bullpen.
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Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 20
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Hanson is one of the few players on this list that I have not seen play. At 6’7, 210 lbs, Hanson has room to grow into his large frame and time to develop: Hanson reportedly only started pitching in 2011, his senior year of high school. His size will get him as many opportunities as he can handle if the Phillies believe they can mold him into the pitcher they need.
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Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 23
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Cooper joins Hanson as the only two 2012 Phillies draft picks to suit up at any point with the Phillies this Spring. Cooper had an impressive 1.30 ERA in 34.2 IP between Williamsport and Lakewood last season. Cooper has a really good shot to compete for a spot in Clearwater in 2013.
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Position: Outfielder
Age: 26
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Susdorf is a fan-favorite in Reading, where he has hit .307/.376/.451 in parts of three seasons there. Susdorf earned his first call-up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season where he hit .282/.350/.361 with 1 HR and 4 SB. Â Like Mitchell, Susdorf is a fine option and candidate for an emergency outfield call-up. Look for Susdorf to start the year in Lehigh Valley in 2013.
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Added on 3/22/2013
Position: RHP Reliever
Age: 22
MLB Spring Stats: N/A
Inch is a 6’4 Canadian reliever who posted a nice 1.338 WHIP in 43.1 IP in his first trip to short-season Williamsport last year. Inch doesn’t really strike anyone out but he doesn’t really walk anyone either. Look for Inch to make his full-season debut this year with the Lakewood Blue Claws.
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