New Uniform Numbers Have Arrived!

2003 E-X Behind the Numbers #BTNGU-MB

The slow offseason has had one positive effect for the Phillies, as they've been able to assign out new uniform numbers much sooner than in the prior two offseasons.  It's the little things, right?

Yesterday, I noticed that all new players, coaches and non-roster invitees (with the exception of the latest round of additions) had been assigned uniform numbers on the official Phillies website.  This is usually the final offseason hurdle to clear before the team packs up its trucks and heads down to Clearwater.

Similar to what I've done the past two seasons, here's this year's handy guide to new players, new numbers and a few other trivial observations:

New Players
#3 Marlon Byrd - Byrd was assigned #3 almost immediately after being signed, assuming the number worn by both Delmon Young and Roger Bernadina in 2013.  Byrd wore #29 during his first stint with the Phillies, and it's surprising that he couldn't coerce that number from its current owner, third string catcher Cameron Rupp.
#4 Lou Marson - It's strange to see a non-roster invitee with a number in the single digits, but Marson has been assigned John McDonald's #4.  Marson wore #3 during his short time with the Phillies in 2008 and 2009.

2008 Topps Opening Day #146

#17 Reid Brignac -  Like Marson, non-roster invitees Brignac, Tony Gwynn, Jr. and Clete Thomas have all received relatively low uniform numbers.  Departed catching coach Mick Billmeyer wore #17 last season.
#19 Tony Gwynn, Jr. - The younger Gwynn has never before worn (in the Majors) the number his father made famous with twenty Hall of Fame seasons in San Diego.  Laynce Nix was #19 the previously two seasons.
#21 Wil Nieves - Assistant hitting coach Wally Joyner wore this number last year.
#24 Clete Thomas - Strangely enough, #24 wasn't worn at all last season.  Ty Wigginton last wore the number in 2012.
#27 Roberto Hernandez - The pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona will wear John Lannan's #27.
#31 Brad Lincoln - The new righty reliever wore #49 as a member of the Blue Jays last season, but Ethan Martin has that number with the Phillies.  Lincoln will assume the number of the player for whom he was acquired, wearing Erik Kratz's old #31.
#52 Kevin Munson - The Rule 5 pick assumes the number last worn by reliever Jose Contreras in 2012.
#75 Miguel Gonzalez -  Cuban born Gonzalez could become the second player in franchise history to wear #75, after Jim Crowell briefly wore the number during the 2004 season.

New Coaches

1996 Phillies Team Issue #2

#10 Larry Bowa - There's no way Bowa could don a Phillies uniform and wear anything other than #10 . . . although he did at one point.  As a coach in the late '80s and early '90s, Bowa wore #2 while Darren Daulton kept his regular #10 warm.  Michael Young wore the number last season.
#12 John Mizerock -  Both Humbero Quintero and Pete Orr wore this number in 2013.  Hopefully, Mizerock finds more success with it.
#22 Bob McClure -  The new pitching coach assumes the number last worn by outfielder/pitcher Casper Wells.
#45 Pete Mackanin -  Chad Durbin and Zach Miner both spent time with #45 in 2013.  During his first stint as a Phillies coach, Mackanin wore #45 in 2009 (before Pedro Martinez took it over), #22 in 2010 and 2011 and #5 in 2012.  Hitting coach Steve Henderson currently owns #5, so Mackanin went back to his 2009 number.

New Numbers
#30 Justin De Fratus - There's just no telling what number De Fratus is going to wear from year to year.  He began his career as #37 but then surrendered that number prior to the 2012 season to Antonio Bastardo and strangely assumed #79.  His new #30 was last worn by former pitching coach Rich Dubee.  Maybe this is some sort of tribute to Dubee?

2010 Phillies Fan Appreciation
Day Postcards #4

Other Stuff
- For the second year in a row, outfield prospect Zach Collier wins the prize for the highest number with his #80.

- From 1 to 60, the following non-retired numbers are still officially up for grabs - #7, #34, #39, #41, #43 and #46.  I wouldn't be shocked if the team has unofficially retired #34 and #41, at least for the next few seasons, out of respect for Roy Halladay and Charlie Manuel.  I seriously doubt they're doing the same thing for #7 (Michael Martinez), #39 (Steven Lerud), #43 (Steve Susdorf) or #46 (Raul Valdes).  I'd expect some or all of those numbers to go to the remaining four non-roster invitees still in need.  Hot prospect Maikel Franco would make an excellent #7.

Memory Lane
2012 New Numbers
2013 New Numbers