Non-Roster Invitee Shuffle - Rickles Added

2017 Grandstand Reading
Fightin Phils Update #3

Before Phillies pitchers and catchers officially reported yesterday for the start of spring training, there were some last minute adjustments to the list of non-roster invitees.  Two players were subtracted from the original list and one player was added, giving the Phillies 60 players in camp vying for 25 roster spots.

On February 10th, pitcher Steve Geltz was suspended for 100 games following a third positive test for a drug of abuse.  A few days later, on February 12th, catcher Eric Fryer announced his retirement following a seven-year big league career.  (So much for the series of Geltz/Steve Jeltz combo cards I had planned throughout the season . . . )

Catcher Nick Rickles was added to the non-roster invitee list a day after Fryer's announcement.  Rickles has played six professional seasons within the A's, Nationals and Phillies organizations.  I have three of his baseball cards in my collection, all from 2017 Reading Fightin Phils team sets.

Player (position) - 2017 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Pedro Beato (rhp) - Phillies - 2011 Topps Chrome #199 (Mets)
2.  Pedro Florimon (inf) - Phillies - 2014 Topps #568 (Twins)
3.  Eric Fryer (c) - Cardinals - 2011 Bowman Draft #36 (Pirates)
4.  Steve Geltz (rhp) - Dodgers - 2012 Topps Heritage Minors Real One Autograph #ROA-SG (Angels)
3.  Matt McBride (c-1b) - Athletics - 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #MM (Indians)
4.  Heiker Meneses (inf) - Red Sox - N/A
5.  Will Middlebrooks (inf) - Rangers - 2017 Topps #46 (Brewers)
6.  Logan Moore (c) - Phillies - 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects #BDPP44 (Phillies)
7.  Danny Ortiz (of) - Pirates - 2017 Topps Update #US30 (Pirates)
8.  Mitch Walding (inf) - Phillies - N/A
9.  Edgar Cabral (c) - Phillies - N/A
10.  Enyel De Los Santos (rhp) - Padres - 2016 Topps Heritage Minors League #60 (Padres)
11.  Tom Eshelman (rhp) - Phillies - 2017 Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniform #PN-50N (Phillies)
12.  J.D. Hammer (rhp) - Rockies/Phillies - N/A
13.  Cole Irvin (lhp) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft #BD-4 (Phillies)
14.  Scott Kingery (inf) - Phillies - 2017 Bowman Draft #BD-114 (Phillies)
15.  Brandon Leibrandt (lhp) - Phillies - N/A
16.  Andrew Pullin (of) - Phillies - 2012 Bowman Draft Picks #BDPP59 (Phillies)
17.  Francisco Rodriguez (rhp) - Tigers/Nationals - 2017 Topps Gypsy Queen #185 (Tigers)
18.  Adam Rosales (inf) - Athletics/Diamondbacks - 2017 Topps #377 (Athletics)
19.  Ryan Flaherty (2b) - Orioles - 2017 Topps #314 (Orioles)
20.  Nick Rickles (c) - Nationals/Phillies - N/A