The Philadelphia Phillies keep trimming away at the spring training roster with just over one week until Opening Day. On Wednesday morning, the team announced its fourth round of roster cuts, sending seven more players to minor league camp and reducing the major league camp to 43 players.
Among the seven players were two of the team's Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline: No. 13 prospect Carlos De La Cruz and No. 19 prospect Símon Muzziotti. Neither move is entirely surprising, as neither is currently on the 40-man roster.
The team also optioned pitcher Nick Nelson, the lone 40-man player in this round of cuts, to Triple-A. Among the other non-40-man roster cuts were pitcher Nick Snyder, outfielder Matt Kroon, infielder Nick Podkul, and catcher/first baseman William Simoneit.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Phillies made the following roster moves:
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 20, 2024
RHP Nick Nelson was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA).
RHP Nick Snyder, OF’s Carlos De La Cruz, Matt Kroon & Simón Muzziotti, INF Nick Podkul and C William Simoneit were reassigned to minor league camp.
Outfielder/first baseman Carlos De La Cruz, 24, is an imposing presence at 6-foot-8 but was unable to display his raw power in 30 Grapefruit League plate appearances. He hit .214 with a .481 OPS and racked up 12 strikeouts to just two walks. After spending the entire 2023 season in Double-A, where he hit 24 home runs, he might get a shot at starting the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Símon Muzziotti, 24, was removed from the 40-man roster this offseason to make room for Max Castillo. The right-handing hitting outfielder didn't do much during his spring training appearances to earn his way back onto the roster. He slashed .125/.300/.125 in 20 plate appearances but had four walks to one strikeout.
Nick Nelson, 28, appeared in five Grapefruit League games, throwing 8 2/3 innings in which he didn't fare as well as anyone would have liked. He finished with a 2-0 record but had a 6.23 ERA and 7.65 FIP with a 1.27 WHIP. His strikeouts were down last season, when he ran a 7.20 K/9 in the minors, but were even worse this spring. He posted a 2.08 K/9 and 5.7 percent strikeout rate — that's two strikeouts in 35 batters.
The right-hander was called up to the majors for the final game of the season last year and had a decent showing in his 5 1/3 innings. He gave up a solo home run but struck out three and held the Mets to two hits.