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Jorge Alfaro Being Called-Up to the Phillies for the Weekend

By George Stockburger

Mar 7, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (68) bats during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. The Phillies won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (68) bats during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. The Phillies won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jorge Alfaro will join the Phillies this weekend

When one door shuts, another one opens. Carlos Ruiz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, shutting another door on the 2008 World Series Phillies. While the team awaits A.J. Ellis to arrive from Los Angeles, one of the Phillies top prospects will open a new door towards the future.

Catcher Jorge Alfaro will join the Phillies Friday when they play the New York Mets in Citi Field. His stay with the big club is not expected to be long. He will be needed for Reading’s championship run over the next couple of weeks.

However, expect to see one of the keys in the Cole Hamels trade to get a shot when the major league roster expands in September.

After missing a large portion of games last season and earlier this year to injury, Alfaro has shown a consistent ability to hit. He’s hitting .279 this season with 13 home runs and 18 doubles.

ESPN’s Jayson Stark hinted on 97.5 The Fanatic that Alfaro could be getting a promotion at some point. These comments were made prior to the Carlos Ruiz trade that was completed Thursday afternoon.

"What’s interesting is, do they call up (Jorge) Alfaro from Reading? They need a third catcher in September, they don’t have a true veteran back-up kind of guy in the (minor league) system, so the choice is really him or Andrew Knapp. They’re both on the 40-man (roster).(The Phillies) love Andrew Knapp, but he’s had a tough second half (of the year). He’s not homered since the first week of June, doesn’t have an extra-base hit in August, so you’d think I’d be Alfaro."

Alfaro will be reunited with his former teammate Jake Thompson, who also came over from the Texas Rangers last season in the Hamels deal.

It’s unknown if Alfaro will make any starts this weekend in New York. The Mets are currently scheduled to throw three righties out to start, including Bartolo Colon and Noah Syndergaard.

Adam Morgan is currently scheduled to start Friday night against the Mets. He pitched a quality game his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, going six innings and giving up only one run.

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