With the Phillies just about halfway through Spring Training, now seems like a perfect time to try to project their 25-man roster. Let me know your thoughts and I will give explanations where they are needed.
Infielders
1B Darin Ruf
2B Cesar Hernandez
SS Freddy Galvis
3B Maikel Franco
C Cameron Rupp
Carlos Ruiz
Andres Blanco
Barring anything drastic, this group is pretty much set right now. Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf will platoon at first base with Ruf looking to receive more playing time. Cameron Rupp will be starting at catcher with Ruiz there to mentor him and the young pitchers.
Outfielders
LF Peter Bourjos
CF Odubel Herrera
RF Tyler Goeddel
David Lough
An outfielder to be named later
Cody Asche does not appear on this list because he is still hurting and he most likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, but there will probably be a spot on the roster waiting for him. An outfielder to be named later is in there because the Phillies have expressed interest in acquiring a veteran outfielder after Aaron Altherr went down with the wrist injury.
Rotation
1. Jeremy Hellickson
2. Aaron Nola
3. Jerad Eickhoff
4. Charlie Morton
5. Vince Velasquez
The competition for the fifth starter spot between Vince Velasquez and Adam Morgan has been close, but Velasquez being the prize of the Ken Giles trade has the edge. Also Velasquez is a flamethrower which something that sets him apart from the other Phillies starters. Jerad Eickhoff, as long he fully recovers from his thumb injury and right foot blister, will be a lock for the rotation.
Bullpen
SU Andrew Bailey
CP David Hernandez
SU Dalier Hinojosa
MRP Brett Oberholtzer
MRP Jeanmar Gomez
RHP Luis Garcia
LHP Daniel Stumpf
Assuming David Hernandez has no setbacks in recovering from tricep tendinitis, he will likely be the Phillies closer. Dalier Hinojosa and Andrew Bailey will be the bridge to Hernandez. Luis Garcia has looked pretty bad this spring and so has Hector Neris so you can basically flip a coin between those too. Daniel Stumpf was the Phillies rule 5 draft pick so there is incentive to keep him, but Mackanin has been impressed with the funky style of lefty Bobby LaFromboise. James Russell and Elvis Araujo will be ready in Triple-A in any of the pitchers start to have struggles.
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