Phillies Send Tyler Goeddel, Jake Thompson to Minor-League Camp

The Phillies returned outfielder Tyler Goeddel pitcher Jake Thompson, and others to minor-league camp Friday after spending more than a month in big-league camp.

With the regular season nearing, the Phillies sent a few more players back to the minor-league camp. Outfielder Tyler Goeddel and right-handed pitcher Jake Thompson have both been reassigned to the minor-league camp. Non-roster invitees Dalier Hinojosa, Logan Moore, and Hector Gomez were also demoted.

Goeddel, Philadelphia’s 2015 Rule 5 pick, spent all of 2016 with the major-league team and struggled. He had a meager .192/.258/.291 line in 213 at-bats.

In 28 spring at-bats, Goeddel had a .655 OPS with four RBI and five runs scored.

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There was a minute chance Goeddel could make the team as the fifth outfielder, but the presence of non-roster invitees like Chris Coghlan, Daniel Nava, and Brock Stassi hurt that chance. It’s hard to imagine Goeddel making the team anyway considering his struggles in 2016.

Outfield prospects Roman Quinn, Dylan Cozens, and Nick Williams are all expected to be in the starting lineup at Triple-A outfield.

This left little room for Goeddel to get consistent playing time. The team told Goeddel he will probably go back to Double-A Reading to get more at-bats. Goeddel isn’t exactly pleased with that possibility: [quote via Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly]

"“They want me to get more at-bats,” Goeddel said. “That’s the main thing. Only getting 200 in your age-23 season is not enough.“They said there’s a chance I’m at Reading. I’m not too happy about that but you can’t control it. That’s where their most openings are and most consistent playing time.“I want to play every day. It was tough last year playing sparingly. Getting at-bats is going to be great. Obviously, I wish it was up here. But at the end of the day, you can’t control it.”"

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Goeddel is still on the 40-man roster (for now) so he could very well get back to the major leagues this season.

Thompson pitched just two games with the major-league team this spring after missing a lot of spring training due to a sore wrist he sustained on the first day of camp. He finally made his debut March 16, throwing 2.1 perfect innings. He followed that up on March 21 with three shutout innings, striking out two.

Thompson, who is also on the 40-man roster, could be one of the team’s first options this year if and when a starting pitcher goes down to injury.

He pitched well in Triple-A but struggled in the majors with a 5.70 ERA in ten starts. Thompson will likely return to Lehigh Valley to start the season.

Next: Phillies 2017 Season Preview: OF Dylan Cozens

Hinojosa, Moore, and Gomez never really had a shot to make the team this year as non-roster invitees and none made themselves candidates to be added.

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