The Phillies announced that they have invited 21 players to big league spring training as non-roster invitees. Here are the names:
Right-handed pitchers: Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, Griff McGarry, McKinley Moore, Billy Sullivan, Francisco Morales, Andrew Baker, Jon Duplantier, Louis Head, Jake Jewell, Jeremy Walker and Mark Appel
Left-handed pitcher: Ben Bowden
Infielders: Scott Kingery, Will Toffey, Weston Wilson, Vimael Machin and Jim Haley
Catchers: Vito Friscia, John Hicks, Max McDowell
The names that stick out are top prospects Andrew Painter, Mick Abel and Griff McGarry. Among the Phillies trio of top 100 arms, Painter, 19, is the most advanced and has the best shot of winning a spot in the Phillies rotation.
Scott Kingery, who is in the final year of his six-year, $24 million contract, will compete for a bench job alongside Dalton Guthrie, Darick Hall, Jake Cave and the other non-roster invitees in camp.
“We’ll see how he’s doing,” manager Rob Thomson said recently about Kingery. “Scotty is a highly talented guy. He just got a little sideways there for a little bit. Maybe we can get him back and get him going.”
For those that tune in to spring training games, get used to hearing these names. Ten or so Phillies players, including J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, will be playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Non-roster invitees and minor league players, especially on the position player side of things, will see a lot more time in big league games.