Thursday, August 14, 2014

2014 Spring Training Roster - Where They Went (A Little Late)

2014 Phillies Team Issue #74
I'm not ashamed to admit that my mind has already starting wandering to February 2015 when pitchers and catchers will report to Clearwater.  I definitely don't want the summer to go by any quicker, and I love the holiday season, but from a pure baseball perspective, I'm already looking ahead.

I started to browse through my posts from this past February and March when I realized I had never done a "Where They Went" post, similar to what I've done the prior two years.  So just for posterity's sake, here's a look back at the 2014 Spring Training 58 + 2 and where they started the season.  (The +2 is for Koyie Hill and Jayson Nix who both joined the club after the initial 58 broke camp.)

25 players made the opening day roster, and these 25 appear on the first 25 cards of the 2014 Chachi set.  Here's what happened to the other 35.

Disabled List (6):  Pitchers Mike Adams, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Cole Hamels and Ethan Martin, infielder Freddy Galvis and outfielder Darin Ruf.

All but Gonzalez have already seen time with the Phillies this season, and I'm hoping he's a September call-up.  Adams season was pretty much another wash, as continued injuries have limited him to just 19 games so far this season.

Designated for Assignment (1):  Infielder Kevin Frandsen

In a bit a roster maneuvering that completely backfired on Ruben Amaro, Jr., Frandsen opted for free agency rather than accept his temporary demotion to the IronPigs.  He ended up with a guaranteed contract from the Nationals, where he's hitting .231 in 75 games.  The team gambled that Nix would be a better option than Frandsen.  Nix has been released twice this season (by the Phillies and then the Rays) and he's now with the Pirates.

Returned from Rule V Draft (1):  Pitcher Kevin Munson

2014 Phillies Team Issue #53
Released (4):  Pitcher Michael Stutes, catcher Lou Marson, infielder Ronny Cedeno and outfielder Bobby Abreu.

It doesn't appear as if Stutes has latched on with any team, and he may be out of baseball at this point.  Marson is playing with the Reds' AA team in Pensacola and Cedeno re-signed with the Phillies, only to get traded to the Diamondbacks in June.  Abreu hit .238 in 67 games for the Mets before recently getting designated for assignment.

AAA- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (16):  Pitchers Phillippe Aumont, David Buchanan, Shawn Camp, Luis Garcia, Jeremy Horst, Cesar Jimenez, Sean O'Sullivan, Jonathan Pettibone, catchers Koyie Hill, Cameron Rupp, infielders Andres Blanco, Reid Brignac, Maikel Franco, outfielders Leandro Castro, Tyson Gillies and Clete Thomas

Of the 16 players listed here, and including those still with the organization, only Horst, Franco and Castro haven't seen any playing time with the Phillies this season. Gillies and Thomas have since been released by the IronPigs.

AA - Reading Fightin Phils (7):  Pitchers Jesse Biddle, Ken Giles, catchers Tommy Joseph, Sebastian Valle, outfielders Aaron Altherr, Zach Collier and Kelly Dugan

Giles and Altherr both made it to the Phillies this season, with Giles becoming one of the team's most reliable relievers.

Memory Lane
2012:  The Spring Training 57 (+1): Where They Went
2013:  The Spring Training 62: Where They Went

4 comments:

Jim from Downingtown said...

So Phillies' cast-off Kevin Frandsen will see the playoffs before the Phillies do.

Jim said...

And Schierholtz joins him on the Nationals roster!

Steve F. said...

That Abreu card taunts me...I never found one.

Jim said...

It still baffles me that they'd go through the trouble of pulling these cards from all the sets. Wouldn't it just be easier to leave them in?