Phils Announce Opening Day Roster – 3 players to the Minors

As reported by mlb.com the Phillies have finalized their 2012 opening day roster.

It’s great to see 32 year old Pete Orr have his contract selected and we will miss “Speedy Petey” (174 stolen bases in 10 years in the Minors) on Thursday at Coca-Cola Park.

Joe Savery will remain with the big club as well and what a baseball story for Savery. I mentioned in a earlier post that the “Savery Story” would make a great movie. Let’s hope he adds the next chapter as a big league pitcher. Good luck Joe!

What a baseball story for Joe Savery – from Clearwater (where he hit .307) before returning to Reading then on to the Lehigh Valley mainly as a pitcher (4-0 1.80 ERA) and finally on to the big show all in 2011. (please click here for required reading)

Infielder Hector Luna and outfielder Scott Podsednik  were assigned to the Minors and we’ll most likely see them in the LHV to start. Left-hander Raul Valdes was also assigned to the Minors but with five lefties already on the IronPigs roster we’ll have to wait and wee where Valdes ends up. Although, all three of them would complete the 25 man roster.

Freddy Galvis will also stay with the Phils (for now). With injuries to infielders Ryan Howard (left Achilles surgery), Chase Utley (chondromalacia patella), and Michael Martinez (fractured fourth metatarsal in right foot), Freddy’s fate remains to be seen.

With what we saw from Galvis last year (.298 in 33 games with LHV and some spectacular defense), he may just remain on the big stage.

2011 IronPigs pitcher Justin DeFratus was placed on the IR retro to March 26th. DeFratus is only 24 and was drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft and has been making a steady rise since.

The Phils currently have one vacancy left of their 40 man roster. Who do you think it will be?

Oink!

DiPro’s Dish