There aren't a lot of big names or even names that casual baseball fans would
know, but the spring invitations bring some interesting players to Phillies
camp.
The "big three" of the invites are pitching prospects Cole Hamels and Gio
Gonzalez and catching prospect Jason Jaramillo. None of them are expected to
make the Phillies roster out of spring training, but all are figured on to play
a role with the big league club in the not-too-distant future. For Hamels, 2006
marks a return to camp. He was with the club in 2004 and was impressive, but
wound up suffering an injury. Because he was hopeful of making the club, he
didn't disclose the injury to the Phillies and it started a spiral of injuries
that have sidelined Hamels. This time around, Hamels will know that it's a long
shot for him to make the club and he's only there to get a look at the club and
for them to get a look at him.
Gonzalez came to the Phillies in the Jim Thome deal with the White Sox and
figures to leave his mark on the Phillies' starting rotation before all is said
and done. The 20 year old left-hander pitched in both low-A and high-A ball in
the White Sox organization last season and, like Hamels, knows that he's not
ticketed to go north with the club when camp breaks. Jaramillo will be one of
the additional catchers in camp, who are needed to get pitchers their work. The
switch-hitting Jaramillo was the Phillies' second round pick in 2004 and is in
line for a major league job before too long.
Of the other invitations, seven are from within the organization.
Pitchers Ryan Cameron, Clay Condrey, Aquilino Lopez, Travis Minix and Brian Sanches all received invitations. Lopez spent some time with the Phillies last
season, going 0-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 appearances. In 16 2/3 innings, he
struck out 22 hitters. He may have the best chance of the invited pitchers of
making the club. Clay Condrey was with the Phillies briefly last season, but
didn't get to pitch in a game before being returned to AAA Scranton. He will be
in his second season in the Phillies' organization. Travis Minix and Brian
Sanches both pitched as high as AAA last season. Both are right-handers and both
have an outside shot at winning a place in the Phillies' bullpen this season.
Cameron pitched at AA Reading and is ticketed to pitch at AAA Scranton next
season.
Chris Coste and Tim Gradoville are the remaining Phillies prospects who
received invitations. Coste played at AAA Scranton and led the Red Barons in
games (134), at bats (506), homeruns (20) and RBI (89). The 32 year old is
hoping to win a utility role with the big league club. Gradoville is a catcher
and played for both AA Reading and AAA Scranton. He holds the distinction of
having played for both teams on the same day when he appeared in games with each
club last May 24.
From outside the organization, the Phillies have invited eight players to
Clearwater.
Pitchers Jeremy Cummings, Aaron Myette and Matt White all join the
organization. In the case of Myette, he is rejoining the Phillies organization
after spending a season in Japan, where he appeared in just three games.
Cummings was in the Cardinals organization and went a combined 12-4, 3.76 in
stops at AA Springfield and AAA Memphis. He pitched 18 games as a starter and
another eight in relief. White is 28 and pitched in the Nationals organization
at AAA New Orleans where he went 8-6, 3.72 in 35 games with the Zephyrs. He also
made one start in the majors, giving up four runs in four innings of work and
suffering the loss.
Veteran minor league catcher Dusty Wathan joins the Phillies after spending
three seasons in the Indians' organization. Wathan reached the majors with
Kansas City in 2003 and went 3-for-5 (.600), but hasn't been back to the big
leagues since. He is the son of former Royals' manager John Wathan.
Infielders Bobby Scales and Joe Thurston join the Phillies organization in
2006 and both will be in camp with the club. Thurston is the better known of the
two and was figured on to be the Dodgers everyday second baseman not long ago.
He has hit .275 in 37 games with the Dodgers in his career. Last season, he was
in AAA with both the Dodgers and Yankees and hit .272 with 8 homeruns and 42
RBI. Scales played second, third and left for Portland last season, hitting .274
with 14 homeruns and 61 RBI.
Among the outfielders, Peter Bergeron has major league experience with
Montreal and was in the Expos starting lineup for part of the 2004 season. Last
year, he spent most of the year with AA Bowie where he hit .296 and he also
played for the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic League. Outfielder Shawn Garrett also joins the Phillies after he hit .295 with 17 homeruns and 82 RBI
for Sacramento. In addition to playing outfield, Garrett can also play at first
base.