3/2/26 : Today in Spring Training

Major league camp has the day off and the first day of official Minor League Camp is full of meetings and administrative reviews (no baseball activities) but that doesn’t stop your daily spring training “beat writer” from sending a few notes your way 🤓. Here goes.

Lehigh Valley Rotation Projection :

Right handers Jean Cabrera, Alan Rangel, Bryse Wilson and lefty Tucker Davidson are four apparent starters for AAA level Lehigh Valley with RH Ryan Cusick also being stretched out as a potential rotation candidate. RHP Connor Gillispie will likely also be in the mix - he’s in the early stages of ramping up having thrown a couple side bullpens after signing on 2/18/26. RH Chuck King has impressed in two Grapefruit League appearances (two IP - no runs, one hit, five strikeouts) and logged 123.1 innings last season as a starter for Reading but he may return to the bullpen this year to take advantage of his high velocity heat, sinker, slider and cutter mix as a back end type reliever - tbd. He’s a strike thrower who will make opponents earn their way.  RH Mitch Neunborn is pitching for Team Australia in the WBC - he’s a spot starter/bulk reliever who saw action at both Reading and Lehigh Valley last season.

Impressions :

Grapefruit League games for veteran players returning for another season are opportunities to re-establish routines and timing. For young ascending minor leaguers they are chances to make impressions on the big league staff, the front office brass and the Philly fan base. From this fan’s view Bryan Rincon, Dante Nori, Kehden Hettiger, Chuck King, Robbie Moore, Carson De Martini, Felix Reyes, Jean Cabrera, Seth Johnson, Alex McFarlane and Paul McIntosh have made solid impressions thus far in camp. Of course Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter have also both stood out but expectations for them were a bit different coming in.

Rincon has always been a defensive stalwart at shortstop but has shown the pop in his bat as well this spring that to date has flared in minor league games but hasn’t been consistent. For those of us who watch daily we already knew Hettiger had power and a pretty swing from the left side - he’s made a strong early impression as a hitter and continues to progress defensively as a catcher. Nori is a spark plug player, he’s shown that - the hits haven’t fallen yet but he’s hit it hard and has shown off his wheels and defensive prowess as an outfielder. Moore is just a steady ball player who brings it everyday, DeMartini and Reyes are strong hitters - they’ve both reflected that in practice and games hitting it hard and often. McIntosh has shown folks he’s better than they may have previously realized - strong with pop and progressing behind the dish. Johnson, King and McFarlane have shown their power arsenals in the early going and planted a seed that they may be able to help the big club this season as relievers. Cabrera is a bulldog who fights with everything he has - the young man showed that in his first outing - I expected nothing less. Crawford and Painter have been Justin and Andy - comfortable in their abilities and just playing like they know how. Spring impressions are important to young players - so far these fellas have made strong ones.

The 2025 draft class :

I’ve been able to watch a few bullpens and live BP’s in HP and Mini Camp. Last year’s draft was heavy on pitching and it’s perhaps the best draft class in that regard since I’ve been doing this player development writing gig. Gabe Craig, Brian Walters, James Tallon, Sean Youngerman, Cade Obermueller, Kegan Batka, Richie Cortese and Gage Woodhave each had good camps to date in my view - all but Craig and Cortese are being developed as starters with those two slated as back end relievers. Some like Wood are already working on adding to their mix (he’s tinkering with a splitter). All the hurlers I’ve mentioned carry 95 plus octane when needed, most feature it along with a secondary pitch that’s an out-maker. Minor league games start on 3/9 and there will likely be scrimmages this week - will be fun to watch how everyone performs.

On the verge :

Griffin Burkholder has battled hamstring issues in his first two pro seasons which have limited him to just 35 games of official play. He’s now cleared of his rehab and is designated as a full participant in upcoming minor league camp. In live BP’s to date he’s scolded a few balls which provides a glimpse of what might be. TJayy Walton has also had multiple injury setbacks in his three year career to date limiting him to just 90 games of play. This past week he reportedly annihilated a pitch in live BP driving it a long way - I’ve seen that power before in practices - hopefully TJayy can maintain good health this season and show off his capabilities.

I’ve said it before but it’s worth mentioning again that starting RHP Luke Gabrysh finished 2025 with perhaps the best results in the system - in his last ten appearances he posted a 2.20 ERA in 41 IP with 31 K’s. In both HP and mini camp he’s continued to impress - the 22 year old from Delaware has gained confidence, he’s very athletic and has a five pitch mix with a bulldog competitive attitude - he’s on the right track to being one on the verge of big things. Minor league Director - Pitching Development - Programming Travis Hergert said that Luke “Throws lots of strikes. He can spin the ball well and showed the ability to adjust to being a starter in pro ball. We look for him to increase his strikeout rate this season.”

Former Phillies with stellar spring starts to date :

RHP Mick Abel is a genuinely good person, one who that if ya knew him you wouldn’t be able to not root from him to succeed. In his two spring starts thus far for the Twins he’s pitched six scoreless innings with only three hits allowed, no walks and eleven strikeouts - he’s thrown 89 pitches in total and has 22 swings and misses 😳.  The fastball has reached 99 mph already and he’s shown a big break sweeper/slider. Very happy for him and hope that it continues.

In RHP Griff McGarry’s first outing of the spring with Washington he worked a perfect inning striking out two batters on 2/28 - his fastball touched 97 mph and he showed a sweeper to strike the last batter he faced out. Griff is another good young man and I hope he can stick the full season with Washington - he was selected by them in this winter’s Rule 5 draft.

Infielder William Bergolla is a non roster invitee this spring with the White Sox - he was traded there by the Phillies to acquire LHP Tanner Banks. In nine spring AB’s to date William has six hits including two doubles and has also walked twice. The 21 year old has made a strong initial impression in his first opportunity in big league camp. He had a solid 2025 season at the AA level posting a .286/.342/.333 slash line in 551 plate appearances.

Another one of my favorites RHP Ben Brown threw two shutout innings allowing just one hit while striking out three batters for the Cubs against the Dodgers on 2/28/26. I watched him on MLB TV - what was intriguing is that he threw a very good off speed curve ball to produce multiple swings and misses - Ben has always had a power arm but lagged behind with a consistent secondary - if he finds that he’s got a long productive big league career ahead of him!

Angels RHP George Klassen threw two scoreless innings against the Padres allowing just one hit while striking out three batters in his Cactus League debut. He’s a non-roster invitee for Los Angeles this spring. Klassen topped out at 99 mph during his 2/25/26 outing. George is a happy go lucky young man who turns into a fierce competitor on the hill, another fella we continue to root for outside of the Phillies.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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