These five Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training invitees have some hype but won’t make the MLB roster.
After coming up two wins shy of a championship, the Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t be more eager to get back to the field for the 2023 season. There are minimal spring training competitions going on for them in Florida. Other than a bench spot and maybe somewhere in the bullpen, the team is pretty much set.
This didn’t stop them from inviting a lot of talented younger players with them. Giving those guys a taste of what it’s like to be around major leaguers for the first time could be the first push of the year they need.
These five Phillies Spring Training invitees will get a shot to play for the team this spring. However, for one reason or another, they are unlikely to make the MLB roster.
1) Why Andrew Painter won’t make the Phillies roster
This goes against the idea of wishful thinking. Whether you root for the Phillies or not, the rise of Andrew Painter is going to be one of the more exciting stories to unfold in the next season or two. He’s one of, if not the best, pitching prospects in the game.
Rather than fill out the rotation with another veteran, the Phillies are going internal. Bailey Falter should be the favorite to leave camp with the fifth spot in the rotation. For Painter, this means a few more innings down on the farm before he finally does get his chance.
Painter is only 26 starts into his professional career. He logged only 28.1 innings in Double-A without a single frame in Triple-A. He doesn’t turn 20 until April and yet he’s already a contender for the Opening Day roster.
The Phillies do have to ask themselves some important questions when it comes to Painter. Aside from whether or not he’s ready for MLB, when would they like to have him available most?
Painter will be on some sort of an innings limit this year even if it’s nothing official. Every game counts the same in the regular season. Even so, having Painter available for when they need him most will be the wiser choice to make.