{"id":67471,"date":"2024-02-29T22:19:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T03:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=67471"},"modified":"2024-02-29T22:19:31","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T03:19:31","slug":"surprise-candidates-phillies-roster-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/02\/29\/surprise-candidates-phillies-roster-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Surprise Candidates To Make the Phillies Opening Day Roster"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are multiple surprise candidates to make the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a> Opening Day roster. These candidates have been impressive early on in spring training. The Phillies are currently 3-1 in Grapefruit League<\/a> play. As things currently stand, the Phillies have a full 40-man roster. This could complicate things for some of these players trying to make the Phillies roster. In addition, some players are out of minor league options on the 40-man roster, and they will need to be designated for assignment if they do not make the Opening Day roster regardless of who does make the team. The most notable of these examples are Cristian Pache<\/a> and Jake Cave<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Surprise Candidates To Make Phillies Roster<\/h2>\n

Andrew Bellatti<\/h3>\n

After being designated for assignment<\/a> so the Phillies could add Michael Rucker<\/a> to the 40-man roster, Andrew Bellatti<\/a> is at camp as a non-roster invitee. For Bellatti to make the Opening Day roster, someone currently on the 40-man roster would have to be designated for assignment. In 27 appearances with the Phillies last season, Bellatti had a 1-0 record with a 5.11 ERA and an 85 ERA+ as well as 25 strikeouts. So far in two spring training appearances, Bellatti has not allowed a run in two innings and has one strikeout. A return to his 2022 form would help Bellatti’s chances to make the roster. In 2022, Bellatti had a 4-4 record with a 3.31 ERA and a 121 ERA+ as well as 78 strikeouts in 59 outings.<\/p>\n

Dylan Covey<\/h3>\n

Currently on the 40-man roster, Dylan Covey<\/a> is in the best position to make the team<\/a> of these candidates. However, Covey is not a lock to make it yet. So far this spring, he has pitched two scoreless outings recording three strikeouts. Last season, in 28 appearances with the Phillies, he had a 1-3 record with a 3.69 ERA and a 117 ERA+ along with 27 strikeouts. Covey joined the Phillies last season as a waiver pickup after making an appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers before being released. It is important to note that Covey does not have any remaining minor league options. This means that Covey will likely be designated for assignment if he does not make the roster.<\/p>\n

Scott Kingery<\/h3>\n
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The legend of Scott Kingery growspic.twitter.com\/EYl6dwiFeq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Phillies HR Tracker (@PHI_HR_Tracker) February 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n