With spring training approaching in just over a month’s time, the Philadelphia Phillies look to round out their roster in preparation for the upcoming 2025 season. The Phillies have already done some of their homework with key additions of Max Kepler and Jordan Romano through free agency, Jesús Luzardo through trade, along with a few other solid moves. But potential roster spots are still up for grabs as they get set to battle it out during the Phillies' 2025 spring training.
To add to the competition, the Phillies announced their list of 23 non-roster invitees on Tuesday ahead of their big league training camp. Among the group included some promising top prospects such as Aidan Miller, Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, together with other players with varying amounts of major league experience. But two surprising names that stood out were veterans Joel Kuhnel and Rodolfo Castro.
Phillies’ surprise veteran minor league signings earn spring training invites
Kuhnel is a former 11th-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in the 2016 MLB Draft. However, the 29-year-old right-hander has yet to establish himself despite having spent parts of five seasons in the majors. His most prominent season came in 2022 when he appeared in 53 games for the Reds, posting a 6.36 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 56 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.
Overall, Kuhnel has compiled a 4-3 record with a 5.86 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 76 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings of work over 82 career relief appearances. Having officially signed a minor league contract with the Phillies back in December, he hopes to finally get the chance to show what he can do with a perennial contender.
As for Castro, most Phillies fans will remember him as the disappointing trade deadline addition made by Philadelphia back in 2023. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates as the de facto replacement for the departed utilityman Josh Harrison at the time, Castro ended up playing in just 14 games down the stretch for the Phillies. He put up a dismal .100 batting average and .256 OPS, along with just two runs scored and two RBI in 32 total plate appearances.
Castro was looking for redemption with the organization for the 2024 season, but nagging injuries limited him to just 23 minor league games overall. Despite all of that, the Phillies were willing to give him another go-around when they re-signed him to a minor league contract last November, shortly after he elected free agency.
Kuhnel will have an outside shot at making the Phillies’ bullpen for 2025, given the depth of their relief corps is practically non-existent beyond the expected starting seven of Romano, José Alvarado, Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, José Ruiz, Orion Kerkering and possibly Taijuan Walker.
Castro, on the other hand, will be in tough competition against the likes of Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens, Weston Wilson and Buddy Kennedy, so he will need a huge spring training to prove that he belongs with the big league team. Nevertheless, getting an actual invite to camp is the first step in the right direction for both veteran players, hoping to get one more chance at MLB glory for their careers.