Kingery, 7 Other Prospects Invited to Spring Training

2017 Choice Lakewood BlueClaws #7

2017 Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniform #PN-50N

2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils Update #35

2017 Topps Heritage Minors #15

2017 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Theme Night #24

2017 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #17

On Wednesday, the Phillies added eight prospects to their list of non-roster invitees to spring training.  These eight join the previously announced 10 players from early January.  Scott Kingery is perhaps the most interesting name on the list, as the infielder could be the team's second baseman of the future.  Kingery and outfielder Andrew Pullin are appearing as non-roster invitees for the second year in a row.  Rather than go through the career accolades of these players, I wanted to take a look at their available baseball cards.

Edgar Cabral (c) - It appears as if Cabral's only baseball card appearance to date is in the 2017 Lakewood BlueClaws team set.

Enyel De Los Santos (rhp) - Acquired in December from the Padres for Freddy Galvis, he has a card in the 2016 Topps Heritage Minors set.

Tom Eshelman (rhp) - Acquired in December 2015 from the Astros as part of the Ken Giles deal, Eshelman's first major baseball card can be found within the 2015 Bowman Draft set.  He appeared on a bunch of 2016 Phillies minor league cards but had only one 2017 card, within the Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniforms insert set.

J.D. Hammer (rhp) - Other than appearances in Rockies minor league sets, Hammer hasn't had any mainstream baseball cards to date.  He was acquired in July as part of the return for Pat Neshek.

Cole Irvin (lhp) - Irvin can be found within the 2016 Bowman Draft set and in various Phillies minor league team sets from the past two years.

Scott Kingery (inf) - Kingery first appeared in the 2015 Bowman Draft set and his cards are readily available in Bowman and Topps minor league issues from the past two years.

Brandon Leibrandt (lhp) - Leibrandt's few cards can be found within the 2015 Clearwater Threshers team set and all three 2017 Reading Fightin Phils team sets.

Andrew Pullin (of) - Pullin is the veteran of this bunch, having appeared on Phillies baseball cards since 2012 when he received a Bowman Draft card.  He's been appearing in Phillies minor league team sets every year since then.

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)
5.  Matt McBride (c-1b) - Athletics - 2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects #MM (Indians)
6.  Heiker Meneses (inf) - Red Sox - N/A
7.  Will Middlebrooks (inf) - Rangers - 2017 Topps #46 (Brewers)
8.  Logan Moore (c) - Phillies - 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects #BDPP44 (Phillies)
9.  Danny Ortiz (of) - Pirates - 2017 Topps Update #US30 (Pirates)
10.  Mitch Walding (inf) - Phillies - N/A
11.  Edgar Cabral (c) - Phillies - N/A
12.  Enyel De Los Santos (rhp) - Padres - 2016 Topps Heritage Minors League #60
13.  Tom Eshelman (rhp) - Phillies - 2017 Topps Pro Debut Promo Night Uniform #PN-50N
14.  J.D. Hammer (rhp) - Rockies/Phillies - N/A
15.  Cole Irvin (lhp) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft #BD-4
16.  Scott Kingery (inf) - Phillies - 2017 Bowman Draft #BD-114
17.  Brandon Leibrandt (lhp) - Phillies - N/A
18.  Andrew Pullin (of) - Phillies - 2012 Bowman Draft Picks #BDPP59

Phillies Minor League Free Agents & Chachi Almost Cards

2017 Chachi Almost #18

2017 Chachi Almost #20

2017 Topps Update #US171

On Tuesday, Baseball America published a list of 572 new minor league free agents and the list included 16 players from the Phillies organization.  Players in red below saw time with the Phillies over the past few seasons.

RHP:  Michael Mariot, Colton Murray, Miguel Nunez, Jesen Therrien
LHP:  Cesar Ramos
RHP/LHP:  Pat Venditte
C:  Wilson Garcia, Chace Numata, Nick Rickles
1B:  Jake Fox, Brock Stassi
2B:  Angelo Mora
3B:  Harold Martinez
SS:  Hector Gomez
OF:  Christian Marrero, Herlis Rodriguez

Both Mariot and Murray spent time in the Phillies bullpen during the 2016 season, but neither got the call all season long in 2017.  Stassi provided a feel-good story coming out of spring training, as the 27-year-old rookie made the Phillies' opening day roster.  In 51 games, he hit .167 with a pair of home runs and he earned baseball cards in the Topps Heritage High Numbers and Topps Update sets for his efforts.

Moving On - 2017-2018 Offseason

• Henderson Alvarez - rhp (10/4/17) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Ty Kelly - 2b-of (10/4/17) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Kevin Siegrist - lhp (10/4/17) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Pedro Beato - rhp (10/13/17) - Elected free agency.
• Andres Blanco - inf (11/2/17) - Elected free agency.
• Clay Buchholz - rhp (11/2/17) - Elected free agency.
• Hyun Soo Kim - of (11/2/17) - Elected free agency.
• Daniel Nava - of (11/2/17) - Elected free agency.
• Pedro Florimon - inf-of (11/6/17) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Jesen Therrien - rhp (11/6/17) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Michael Mariot - rhp (11/6/17) - Elected free agency.
• Colton Murray - rhp (11/6/17) - Elected free agency.
• Brock Stassi - 1b (11/6/17) - Elected free agency.

2017 Chachi Almost #16

2017 Chachi Almost #21

2017 Chachi Almost #24

I also wanted to clear out my draft folder of a bunch of Chachi Almost cards.  I make cards during spring training of every player on the 40-man roster as well as each non-roster invitee if a good photo becomes available.  These cards wait patiently all season to perhaps become official Chachi cards, but if the player doesn't get the call the cards join the Chachi Almost insert set.  Mark Appel, Dylan Cozens, Elniery Garcia, Scott Kingery, Logan Moore, Shane Pullin, Roman Quinn and Alberto Tirado should all be in the mix when the Phillies head to Clearwater in February.

Hector Gomez, Mariot, Murray, Chace Numata and Cesar Ramos will be moving on.

2017 Chachi Almost #13

2017 Chachi Almost #14

2017 Chachi Almost #15

2017 Chachi Almost #17

2017 Chachi Almost #19

2017 Chachi Almost #22

2017 Chachi Almost #23

2017 Chachi Almost #25

Phillies Now Up to 20 Non-Roster Invitees

2011 Topps #639

2015 Topps Update #US293

2016 Topps Pro Debut #50

In a sure sign that we're inching closer to spring training, the Phillies announced 15 new additions to the non-roster invitee list yesterday.  I had originally missed the addition of left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos, as he was signed to a minor league contract back on January 5th.  The majority of these players spent the bulk of 2016 within the Phillies organization, and the most notable name on the list is top prospect J.P. Crawford.

Here's a run-down of the now 20 players who will be wearing numbers in the 70s and 80s when camp breaks in February.

2016 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Holiday #2

2016 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #10

2015 Immaculate Collection Blue #151

2016 Topps Heritage Minor League #184

Player (position) - 2016 Organization - Last Major Baseball Card Appearance
1.  Sean Burnett (lhp) - Nationals/Dodgers/Braves/Twins/Nationals - 2014 Topps #68 (Angels)
2.  Pedro Florimon (inf) - Pirates - 2014 Topps #568 (Twins)
3.  Hector Gomez (inf) - Korea - 2015 Topps Update #US229 (Brewers)
4.  Daniel Nava (of) - Angels/Royals - 2016 Topps Now #293 (Angels)
5.  Bryan Holaday (c) - Tigers/Rangers/Red Sox - 2014 Topps Update #US117 (Tigers)
6.  Cesar Ramos (lhp) - Rangers/Tigers - 2015 Topps Update #US293 (Angels)
7.  Victor Arano (rhp) - Phillies - 2015 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs #BCAP-VA (Phillies)
8.  Pedro Beato (rhp) - Orioles - 2011 Topps Chrome #199 (Mets)
9.  J.P. Crawford (inf) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman's Best Top Prospects #TP12 (Phillies)
10.  Taylor Featherston (inf) - Angels/Phillies - 2015 Topps Update #US148 (Angels)
11.  Dalier Hinojosa (rhp) - Phillies - 2015 Immaculate Collection #151 (Red Sox)
12.  Rhys Hoskins (1b) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft #BD186 (Phillies)
13.  Scott Kingery (inf) - Phillies - 2016 Bowman Draft #BD128 (Phillies)
14.  Michael Mariot (rhp) - Phillies - N/A
15.  Logan Moore (c) - Phillies - 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospects #BDPP44 (Phillies)
16.  Colton Murray (rhp) - Phillies - 2016 Topps #488 (Phillies)
17.  Chace Numata (c) - Phillies - N/A
18.  Cam Perkins (of) - Phillies - 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP86 (Phillies)
19.  Andrew Pullin (of) - Phillies - 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks #BDPP59 (Phillies)
20.  Brock Stassi (1b) - Phillies - N/A

2016 Choice Reading Fightin Phils Playoff #29

2016 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #17

2016 Grandstand Reading Fightin Phils #19

2016 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #20

2016 Grandstand Clearwater Threshers #20

2016 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #21

2016 Reading Fightin Phils Holiday #25

2016 Reading Phillies 50 Greatest Players #42