While the Philadelphia Phillies are in the thick of their season, one of their prospects, a former reliever — who last pitched in Major League Baseball two years ago — and a 2020 summer camp invitee will soon play international baseball competition.
USA Baseball recently announced its Olympic Training Camp roster of more than 25 players who will help Team USA qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. These players will compete in an eight-team Americas Qualifier from May 31 to June 5 in Florida.
Current and former Phillies will help Team USA make the Summer Olympics.
The qualifier’s winner will earn a spot in the Olympics, while the second- and third-place teams will get another chance at an upcoming Final Qualifier in Mexico. Team USA’s opener will be against Nicaragua on Memorial Day at 7 p.m.
“Team USA failed in its first chance to qualify for the Olympics in the WBCS Premier12 in November 2019 with a prospect-heavy roster,” Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser writes. “There is a significantly larger and more accomplished veteran contingent on this roster, which it hopes will be enough to put it over the top.”
Team USA last won gold at an Olympic Games at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A young Roy Oswalt was among the players on the Tommy Lasorda-managed roster. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia native Mike Koplove, Lou Marson (eventually traded for Cliff Lee), and Jayson Nix were among those who competed for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics.
Players currently on a Major League Baseball team’s 40-man roster are not eligible for the 2021 Americas Qualifier. Therefore, selected players make up former accomplished major leaguers, as well as young top prospects. Here are the three current and former Phillies set to participate, who represent exactly that.
1. David Robertson
The Phillies paid veteran reliever David Robertson more than $20 million in 2019 and 2020, only to get 6 2/3 innings in return. The 36-year-old — who competed against the Phillies in the 2009 World Series as a member of the New York Yankees — battled through an elbow injury that eventually led him to needing Tommy John surgery.
Facing more than 30 batters in early 2019, Robertson allowed eight hits, four runs (all earned), one home run, and six walks, while striking out six batters en route to an 0-1 record, 5.40 ERA, and 2.100 WHIP ratio. Robertson eyed a return last summer, however suffered a setback and therefore missed the entire COVID-19 shortened season.
Before his injury, Robertson was considered among the most durable relievers. The 12-year veteran was among those who helped Team USA earn the gold medal at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. In four appearances and 3 2/3 innings, Robertson allowed for hits, one earned run, and no walks while striking out two batters en route to a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and .267 opposing batting average.
The free-agent recently told the New York Post that he hopes this opportunity to help Team USA qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be his path back to pitching in Major League Baseball. In mid-February, the right-hander threw his second of two showcases this past offseason. More than a dozen teams in attendance saw him sit at 90 to 91 miles per hour, while maxing out at 92 miles per hour on “multiple occasions,” notes MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
2. Luke Williams
Six years ago, the Phillies drafted infield prospect Luke Williams in the third round of the amateur draft out of the California-based Dana Hills High School.
Williams played 22 games this past spring training, slashing .211/.362/.395 with one double, two home runs, eight RBI, nine walks, and 12 strikeouts spanning 38 at-bats. So far in 18 games this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Illinois native is slashing an impressive .352/.439/.465 with four doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 10 walks, and 19 strikeouts spanning 71 at-bats.
Williams has mostly played at the hot corner in his professional career, but has also recently gained experience playing second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. Therefore, the 24-year-old would be a valuable versatile option on the 2021 Team USA roster. Recently signed veteran Ruben Tejada, as well as C.J. Chatham — acquired via trade from the Boston Red Sox this past offseason — will fill the void left by Williams on the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster.
With Spencer Howard recently “graduating” as a Phillies top 30 prospects, Williams has replaced the right-handed pitcher on the list put together by MLB Pipeline. The site writes that Williams continues to use his plus speed, adding: “He’s never been added to the club’s 40-man roster, but his start in Triple-A in 2021 made that seem like an error that will have to be rectified.”
The Phillies invited Williams as among those on their five-man taxi squad for their first road trip of the 2021 season. So, they surely value his presence at the top level of their minor-league system. It will be interesting to see how he performs this coming week in the Florida tournament.
3. Logan Forsythe
Logan Forsythe is among the more accomplished players on the 2021 Team USA Olympics qualifyer roster, having played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball.
The San Diego Padres drafted the Memphis, Tennessee native 46th overall in the first round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Arkansas.
Three years later, Forsythe debuted for the National League West team, hitting .213 in 62 games. After the 2013 season, Forsythe was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays — the team where his career significantly gained attention around Major League Baseball.
Playing 153 games in 2015 for the Rays, the infielder slashed .281/.359/.444 with 33 doubles, 17 home runs, and 68 RBI. Forsythe later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017-18), Minnesota Twins (2018), Texas Rangers (2019), and Miami Marlins (2020).
Forsythe was on the Phillies’ summer camp roster last July before being released and playing a dozen games with their division rival. The Phillies instead opted to give fellow veteran infielder Neil Walker a spot on their 2020 Opening Day roster. The team’s decision was the right one, but both veterans were largely underwhelming in regular season action. Walker batted .231 with nine hits and three RBI in 39 at-bats, while Forsythe batted .118 with four hits and two RBI in 34 at-bats for the Marlins.
The 34-year-old has experience playing in elimination, tournament-style competition, having appeared in 14 games with the Dodgers in the 2017 postseason. Logging 22 plate appearances in that year’s World Series against the Houston Astros, Forsythe collected four singles, one double, and three RBI.