Phillies begin first round of Spring Training cuts

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Drew Anderson
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Drew Anderson

Gabe Kapler and the Phillies are making moves this spring

The Phillies announced on social media Monday afternoon that three players have been either optioned to Lehigh Valley or sent to minor league camp.

Right-handed pitcher Drew Anderson, the organization’s 25th rated prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been optioned to Lehigh Valley. Right-handed relief pitcher J.D. Hammer, 29th rated prospect, and catcher Edgar Cabral were assigned to minor league camp.

Anderson was a September call-up last season who appeared in two shaky relief appearances, allowing seven runs in two and a-third innings. Having only pitched one game in Lehigh Valley before his major league call-up, Anderson will likely spend the majority of this season with the IronPigs. Starting 21 games for the Reading Fightin’ Phils Anderson won nine games with an ERA of 3.59.

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Hammer and his Rick Vaughn glasses arrived last season from the Colorado Rockies in the Pat Neshek trade. Projected to be a late-inning reliever Hammer pitched in 12 games with Clearwater with an outstanding 0.57 ERA. Expect the 23-year-old to start the season in either Clearwater or Reading as either the setup man or closer.

An 11th-round pick in 2015, Cabral played in both Williamsport and Lakewood last year hitting .260 with 22 extra-base hits in 91 games. He’s unranked on the organization’s top prospects list, and will likely start the year in Clearwater where he hit .310 in 24 games.

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Expect more designations to come out of camp in the coming days as the organization widdles a 60-man camp down to the 25-man opening day roster.