That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Building the team through baseball cards

By Bryce Turner

Philadelphia Phillies (Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies (Kris Connor/Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Nick Martini #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies at bat against the Boston Red Sox during a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Nick Martini #31 of the Philadelphia Phillies at bat against the Boston Red Sox during a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Current Phillies Hitters

From a starting outfielder to an outfielder trying to make the team, I came across a Nick Martini card.

The picture shows Martini wearing an Oakland Athletics uniform.

Martini made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Athletics, recording one HR, 19 RBI and batting .296/.397/.414 in 55 games.

He came up with one hit (a two-run home run) in 13 plate appearances for the Athletics last season before a bit of a journey.

Martini was designated for assignment in late August, being claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres, who designated him for assignment in late November.

He was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds before being DFA’d again in January, claimed by the Phillies, who also designated him in February.

He cleared waivers and will now audition for a role on the major league Phillies.

Martini’s AAA stats are noteworthy, with 23 HR, 177 RBI and a .305/.401/.435 slash line across five seasons.

Also featured in my group of baseball cards are two former Phillies.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 07: Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins reacts during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 07: Willians Astudillo #64 of the Minnesota Twins reacts during the game against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field on September 7, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 5-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Catcher/infielder Willians Astudillo played for the Phillies’ Venezuelan Summer League team from 2009 to 2011 and Gulf Coast League team in 2012.

He also played for the Phillies’ minor league teams in Lakewood in 2014 and Clearwater in 2015, with a batting average above .300 in both.

Astudillo has now spent part of the last two seasons with the major league Minnesota Twins, with seven HR, 42 RBI and batting .297/.322/.424 in 87 games. Perhaps he would also fit well in the “players the Phillies could use” category?

The other former Phillie is catcher Jorge Alfaro, who spent time at both the major and minor league levels.

In 143 games across three seasons with the major league Phillies, Alfaro hit 15 HR, 51 RBI and .270/.327/.422.

Alfaro was part of last off-season’s trade with the Miami Marlins that saw J.T. Realmuto join the Phillies, and hit 18 HR, 57 RBI and .262/.312/.425 in 130 games last season with Miami.

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