Phillies Make First Cuts of Spring Training

While new right fielder Bryce Harper made his debut on Saturday, Phillies Spring Training camp began to look a little different in other ways.  The Phillies made their first cuts of Spring Training camp.  Two players were optioned to the minor leagues, and five were sent to minor league camp, as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com noted after Saturday's game.

The biggest name on the list is Adonis Medina.  Now the top Phillies pitching prospect after the trade of Sixto Sanchez and ranked number two on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 prospects list, Medina appeared in three games for the Phillies, including one start, pitching 4 2/3 innings.  He struck out five and walked one.

Also optioned was shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa.  Gamboa appeared in 10 games for the Phillies, but made just nine at bats.  He had one hit in those nine at bats, but also picked up three walks.  Gamboa is a shortstop prospect in the Phillies system, ranked number 13 on the Top 30 prospect list on MLB Pipeline.

Both players are on the Phillies 40-man roster, so the move is the first of three seasons in which the Phillies may option either player to the minor leagues.

Not on the 40-man roster but sent to minor league camp include infielder Malquin Cañelo, catcher Deivy Grullon, first baseman and outfielder Austin Listi, outfielder Mickey Moniak and pitcher Jojo Romero.

Remaining in camp is Adam Haseley.  Haseley is the number three prospect on the MLB Pipeline top 30 prospect list.  With the Phillies currently down outfielders Roman Quinn and Odubel Herrera, Haseley might get another look.  The left-handed hitting Haseley was the number one draft pick of the Phillies in 2017.

It is also a sign that Haseley may leapfrog Moniak, the number one overall pick in 2016.  Moniak was drafted out of high school, while Haseley had three years of college and is a bit more polished.