Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Spring Training Game 31 - Getting Closer to Real Baseball

2022 Topps Archives #139
Phillies 5
, Blue Jays 2
Spring Training Game 31 - Monday Afternoon, March 27th in Dunedin
Record - 14-16-1

One Sentence Summary:  Taijuan Walker and the Phillies defeated the Blue Jays in this penultimate spring training game of 2023.

What It Means:  One more spring training game to go!

What Happened:  Trea Turner stayed hot, slugging a two-run home run in the second inning.  Bryson Stott had started the scoring in the first with a two-run single, scoring Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.  Phillies prospect Leandro Pineda hit a solo home run in the ninth.  Walker pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and walking three, but striking out five.  Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning of relief to lower his spring ERA to 1.13.

Featured Card:  Home plate umpire Randy Rosenberg ejected Realmuto in the fourth inning after the umpire thought Realmuto was playing keep away with his glove.  It was actually pretty funny, and I've embedded the video below.

Camp Head Count:  44 - 9 = 35

In a flurry of moves before the game, Michael Plassmeyer (lhp), Luis Ortiz (rhp), Erich Uelmen (rhp) and Kody Clemens (inf) were optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  Aramis Garcia (c), John Hicks (c), Jim Haley (inf), Scott Kingery (inf) and Weston Wilson (inf) were all reassigned to minor league camp.  I would expect all of them to spend some time with the Phillies at some point during the 2023 season.

The Phillies need to trim nine more roster spots prior to Thursday to get down to the opening day roster size of 26.  Bryce Harper (of), Rhys Hoskins (1b) and Ranger Suarez (lhp) will start the season on the Injured List and the remaining two non-roster invitees, Will Toffey (inf) and Andrew Painter (rhp) could be destined for the minor league version of the Injured List.  Noah Song (rhp) will either remain on the Restricted List or be transferred to the Injured List.  That's six spots.

The remaining three players without roster spots seem to be Rafael Marchan (c), Nick Nelson (rhp) and Cristopher Sanchez (lhp).

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