Spring Training 2025: Non-Roster Invitees

2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #29

2022 Topps Heritage #656

2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #11

2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #33

2024 Choice Buffalo Bisons #8

In years' past, news of Phillies' non-roster invitees trickled in over the weeks and months leading to the opening of spring training.  This year, the Phillies gave us one big press release on January 14th announcing 23 non-roster invitees, and they's added three more names to the list since then.

Here's a look at the 26 non-roster invitees opening camp with the Phillies, their 2024 organizations and one of the more recently available baseball cards.

1. Josh Breaux (c) - Yankees / Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #29
2. Payton Henry (c) - Blue Jays - 2024 Choice Buffalo Bisons #5
3. Paul McIntosh (c) - Marlins - 2024 Choice Pensacola Blue Wahoos #17
4. Caleb Ricketts (c) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #11
5. Rodolfo Castro (inf) - Phillies - 2023 Topps Heritage #453
6. Otto Kemp (inf) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #33
7. Rafael Lantigua (inf) - Blue Jays - 2024 Choice Buffalo Bisons #8
8. Aidan Miller (inf) - Phillies - 2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-31
9. Carson Taylor (inf) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #7
10. Justin Crawford (of) - Phillies - 2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-124
11. Gabriel Rincones Jr. (of) - Phillies - 2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-54
12. Matt Kroon (util) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #14
13. Nabil Crismatt (rhp) - Dodgers / Rangers / Padres - 2023 Topps World Baseball Classic #17
14. Jose Cuas (rhp) - Cubs / Blue Jays / Phillies - 2024 Topps Heritage #151
15. Joel Kuhnel (rhp) - Astros / Blue Jays / Brewers / Rays - 2020 Topps Update #U-281
16. Griff McGarry (rhp) - Phillies - 2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-16
17. John McMillon (rhp) - Royals / Marlins - 2024 Topps #571
18. Nicholas Padilla (rhp) - White Sox - 2024 Choice Charlotte Knights #16
19. Andrew Painter (rhp) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #37
20. Austin Schulfer (rhp) - Twins / Tigers - 2023 Choice St. Paul Saints SGA
21. Guillo Zuniga (rhp) - Angels - 2023 Topps Now World Baseball Classic #WBC-22
22. Tristan Garnett (lhp) - Phillies - 2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #20
23. Nick Vespi (lhp) - Orioles - 2024 Choice Norfolk Tides #39
24. Koyo Aoyagi (rhp) - Hanshin Tigers - 2024 Topps NPB #78
25. Christian Arroyo (inf) - Brewers - 2023 Topps #352
26. Oscar Mercado (of) - Padres / Tigers - 2024 Choice El Paso Chihuahuas #17

Aoyagi signed a minor league deal with the Phillies on January 17th, and he's a veteran of nine seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.  Aoyagi was a an All-Star in Japan in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

On Valentine's Day, the Phillies officially signed Christian Arroyo (inf) and Oscar Mercado (of) to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.  Arroyo has spent seven seasons in the majors as a back-up infielder with the Giants, Rays, Indians and Red Sox.  Mercado, who played in one game for the Phillies in 2022, was most recently in the majors with the Cardinals in 2023.

2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #7

2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-54

2024 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #14

2024 Topps Heritage #151

2020 Topps Update #U-281

2024 Topps #571

2024 Choice Reading Fightin Phils (3rd Edition) #20

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary #91

2023 Topps NPB #105

2023 Topps #352

Spring Training Game 1 - Baseball Returns; Phils Rake

2023 Choice Reading
Fightin Phils Update #5

Phillies 14, Blue Jays 13
Spring Training Game 1 - Saturday Afternoon, February 24th in Dunedin
Record - 1-0

One Sentence Summary:  In the first Phillies game of 2024, the offense pounded out 16 hits and enjoyed a 10-run fifth inning in this 14-13 win over the Blue Jays.

What It Means:  With the exception of maybe Johan Rojas, none of the regulars played in this game, but it was still nice to see several potential bench players look productive early.  Like last year, and pretty much every year before that, I spent the day wishing I was in Florida.

What Happened:  For the second spring in a row, Weston Wilson connected for the Phillies' first home run, hitting a two-run blast in the second inning.  Scott Kingery followed a few batters later with a solo home run of his own.  The Phillies piled it on on the fifth inning, with big hits coming from Wilson (two-run double), Rojas (two-run triple) and Matt Kroon (three-run home run).

Phillies pitching allowed the Blue Jays to keep the game interesting.  Kolby Allard got the start and he allowed three runs (two earned) in his two innings of work.  Nick Nelson was hit the hardest, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk in two innings.

Featured Card:  Wilson was in line to get the featured card, but since he received the card in last year's first spring game, I went with Kroon instead.  Kroon has steadily climbed through the Phillies' minor league system since 2018, appearing in a bunch of minor league team sets.  This is the newest card of his in my collection, from the 2023 Reading Fightin Phils update set.

Camp Head Count:  61

As the Grapefruit League season begins, the Phillies have 61 players in major league camp - 40 on their 40-man roster and another 21 non-roster invitees.  This is down a few from the 65 players around for the start of spring training in 2023.

Spring Training 2024: Phillies Announce 15 Non-Roster Invitees

2023 Topps Pro Debut #PD-86

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #17

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #11

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #13

2023 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #12

In a sure sign we're getting closer to baseball again, the Phillies today announced their first 15 non-roster invitees to spring training, which will officially open next month in Clearwater, Florida.  I say "first" as the team has typically added on invitees as the reporting date approaches.  The list below summarizes the Phillies players who will likely be sporting numbers in the 70s and 80s and takes a look at their most recently released mainstream baseball cards, if any.  Only four of the players below are new to the Phillies organization for 2024.

Player (position) - 2023 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card

1.  Mick Abel (rhp) - Phillies - 2023 Topps Pro Debut #PD-86

2.  Ryan Burr (rhp) - Rays - 2019 Topps Total (White Sox)

3.  Griff McGarry (rhp) - Phillies - 2023 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #CPA-GM

4.  Tyler McKay (rhp) - Phillies - N/A

5.  Tyler Phillips (rhp) - Phillies - 2019 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #CPA-TP

6.  Jose Ruiz (rhp) - White Sox / Diamondbacks - 2020 Topps Total #720 (White Sox)

7.  Nick Snyder (rhp) - Rangers - N/A

8.  Aramis Garcia (c) - Phillies - 2020 Topps Total #477 (Giants)

9.  Cody Roberts (c) - Phillies - N/A

10.  William Simoneit (c) - Athletics - N/A

11.  Scott Kingery (inf) - Phillies - 2022 Topps Opening Day Luck of the Irish #LI-3

12.  Nick Podkul (inf) - Phillies - N/A

13.  Carlos De La Cruz (of) - Phillies - 2023 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #CPA-CDC

14.  Matt Kroon (of) - Phillies - N/A

15.  Cal Stevenson (of) - Athletics / Giants / Phillies - 2023 Topps Heritage #508

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #20

2023 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #4

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #24

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #28

2023 Choice Reading Fightin Phils #29