Grapefruit Game 27 - 2018 Topps 1983 Topps Baseball #83-30 Rhys Hoskins

Phillies 7, Blue Jays 7
Spring Training Game 27 - Wednesday Afternoon, March 21st in Dunedin
Record - 10-15-2

One Sentence Summary:  Rhys Hoskins hit two home runs in a 7-7 tie with the Blue Jays.

What It Means:  This game was played while we were getting pummeled with more snow.  Enough already.

What Happened:  Hoskins has found a groove.  Jayson Stark Tweeted during the game that Hoskins has now reached 9 times in his last 16 plate appearances.  The equally hot Scott Kingery hit his 4th home run of the spring and Aaron Altherr added his third home run for good measure.  Nick Pivetta pitched two scoreless innings in one of his final starts before the regular season.

Featured Card:  We're going to be completely inundated with Hoskins cards in the 2018 Topps releases, and this 1983 Topps-inspired card is an insert from Topps Series One.

2018 Chachi Almost #1

2018 Chachi Almost #2

Camp Head Count:  44 - 2 = 42.  Reliever Fernando Abad was released prior to the game and outfielder Danny Ortiz was reassigned to minor league camp.  In 1 2/3 innings this spring, Abad allowed six runs on six hits and three walks.  Two of the six hits were home runs.  Abad becomes the first member of the 2018 Chachi Almost insert set, followed by Eliezer Alvarez.

Alvarez was designated for assignment when the team added Pedro Florimon to the 40-man roster.  On Wednesday, he was traded to the Rangers for cash considerations.

Latest Signing Not Abad Idea

2016 Topps Heritage #613

The Phillies continued their pattern yesterday of incrementally adding non-roster invitees one day at a time, as left-handed reliever Fernando Abad joined the club.  Abad is a veteran of eight major league seasons with the Astros, Nationals, A's, Twins and Red Sox.  Last season in Boston, he appeared in 48 games and pitched to an impressive 3.30 ERA.  Section 36 would have a better scouting report on Abad, but he seems to have been one of the more reliable Red Sox relievers last season.

As is the fate of most relief pitchers, Abad's baseball card appearances have been scarce.  He's appeared on three mainstream cards within the 2011 Topps, 2012 Topps Update and 2016 Topps Heritage sets.  By my unofficial tally, it would appear as if uniform #54 is open and available to Abad for the taking.  The only other Phillies uniform numbers currently available are in the 20s.

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.  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
21.  Drew Hutchison (rhp) - Pirates - 2016 Topps #343 (Blue Jays)
22.  Fernando Abad (lhp) - Red Sox - 2016 Topps Heritage #613 (Twins)