Phillies’ Bench and Bullpen Roster Spots have been finalized
As the Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day roster is finalized, 28-year old Ronald Torreyes has made ball club. Torreyes entered camp as a non-roster invite and will not join the Phillies as the role of a utility infielder. After the Phillies optioned Scott Kingery to the minor leagues over the weekend, it became clear that Torreyes would make the team.
Other non-roster invites including outfielder Matt Joyce and reliever Brandon Kintzler have made the final roster as well.
Torreyes played for Girardi in New York during the 2016 and 2017 season and had seven at-bats with the Phillies last year. This Spring, he slashed .250/.313/.608 with 11 hits, three RBI, and a stolen base. With Brad Miller returning to play in the final days of Spring Training after suffering an oblique strain that caused him to miss a few weeks of action in Clearwater, Torreyes could be the first option off the bench for the Phillies. Filling a role that we all hoped Scott Kingery would have, Torreyes can play shortstop, second base, third base, and even the outfield.
As for the bullpen, eight relievers are set to travel north with the Phillies for Opening Day. Vince Velasquez and David Hale earned the final two spots in the bullpen, leaving JoJo Romero optioned to the minor leagues and only one left handed reliever in the bullpen.
- Archie Bradley
- Hector Neris
- Jose Alvarado
- Connor Brogdon
- Brandon Kintzler
- Sam Coonrod
- Vince Velasquez
- David Hale
JoJo Romero will start the season in the Phillies’ auxiliary camp but we can certainly expect him to be a call-up this season if the Phillies need to explore other options. Romero pitched 8.2 innings with a 1.04 ERA this Spring, striking out eight and picking up two saves.
