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Phillies Invite Multiple Top Prospects to Spring Training as Non-Roster Invitees

By George Stockburger |
Mar 7, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA;Philadelphia Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford (77) throws during the eighth ninth 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 shortstop J.P. Crawford (77) throws during the eighth ninth 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

Three of the Phillies top prospects will join the club in Clearwater for Spring Training next month

While much of the Delaware Valley is frozen over, the bats are preparing to warm up at the Phillies training facility in Clearwater, Florida.

On Wednesday the Phillies released a list of 16 non-roster invitees to join the already-set 40-man roster in Spring Training.

Names notable to Phillies fans include top prospect SS J.P. Crawford, 2B Scott Kingery, 1B Brock Stassi, RP Victor Arano, and 1B Rhys Hoskins. Returning members of the Phillies organization include pitchers Michael Mariot, Colton Murray, Dalier Hinojosa and infielder Taylor Featherston.

Prospects such as Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens, and Jake Thompson will not need a formal invitation to spring training, having already been added onto the 40-man roster in December.

Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; East infielder Scott Kingery of the Philadelphia Phillies during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; East infielder Scott Kingery of the Philadelphia Phillies during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Crawford and Kingery are projected to be the middle infielders of the future in Philadelphia, both ranked within the top-five in baseball at their respective positions. Both could potentially start in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with Crawford most-likely to join the big league club mid-season.

Kingery is still a ways away from being an impact bat in the major league lineup, but could make his debut in the coming seasons. MLB.com ranks Kingery the Phillies 13th-best prospect.

Relief pitcher Victor Arano is an expected, yet interesting name Phillies fans should know of. Arano pitched in Advanced-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading last season, throwing with a combined ERA of 2.26 as a reliever. He recorded 95 strikeouts in under 80 innings of work, and is projected to be a back of the bullpen arm for Philadelphia in the future.

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Rhys Hoskins dueled all of last season with teammate Dylan Cozens in Reading for the club’s home run record, which Cozens ultimately walked away with. Hoskins still finished with a career-high 38 home runs, while hitting .281 for the Fightin’ Phils. He’ll need to lower his 125 strikeouts, but .943 OPS is certainly intriguing for an organization looking for a middle of the order bat. Hoskins is rated as the Phillies 12th-best prospect.

Pitchers and catchers report on February 13 to Clearwater for the start of spring training.

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