Friday, November 18, 2016
PHILLIES ADD 11 PLAYERS TO 40-MAN ROSTER
The Phillies have selected the contracts of the following players to the 40-man roster, Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak announced today:
Drew Anderson, RHP – Anderson, 22, split last season between single-A Lakewood and single-A Clearwater, going 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA (21 ER, 70.0 IP) in 15 combined starts between the two levels. Originally selected by the Phillies in the 21st round of the June 2012 draft, Anderson struck out 28.0 percent of the batters he faced last season (78 SO, 279 BF).
Mark Appel, RHP – The first overall pick in the June 2013 draft and a non-roster invitee to 2016 Major League Spring Training, Appel made eight starts for triple-A Lehigh Valley last season before ending the season on the disabled list following right elbow surgery.
Dylan Cozens, OF – The 2016 Paul Owens Award winner and reigning Eastern League Most Valuable Player, Cozens slashed .276/.350/.591 with 38 doubles, three triples and 40 home runs over 134 games for double-A Reading last season. Cozens, 22, led all of Minor League Baseball in home runs, extra-base hits (83) and total bases (308) and was successful in 21 of his 22 stolen base attempts.
Elniery Garcia, LHP – A 6-foot-2 left-hander, Garcia posted a 2.68 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) for single-A Clearwater in 2016. Originally signed as an amateur free agent in 2011, Garcia, 21, allowed two earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 19 starts. In his final start of the regular season on September 2 versus Dunedin, Garcia struck out 11 batters and allowed only two hits and one earned run over 7.0 innings.
Andrew Knapp, C – A 2016 International League midseason All-Star, Knapp batted .266 with a .330 on-base percentage and had 24 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBI in 107 games for triple-A Lehigh Valley. Selected by the Phillies in the second round of the June 2013 draft, Knapp, 25, caught 18 of 48 base-stealers (38%) last season.
Ben Lively, RHP – Honored as the Paul Owens Award winner for the best pitcher in the Phillies minor league system in 2016, Lively went 18-5 with a 2.69 ERA (51 ER, 170.2 IP) in 28 starts between double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 6-foot-4 right-hander was acquired from the Reds in exchange for outfielder Marlon Byrd in December of 2014. He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the June 2013 draft by Cincinnati.
Ricardo Pinto, RHP – Pinto, a 22-year-old selected to the World Team in the 2016 Futures Game, made 25 starts last season for double-A Reading, appearing in a total of 27 games. He went 7-6 with a 4.10 ERA (71 ER, 156.0 IP), tossing 6.0 or more innings in 19 of his 25 starts. The 2015 Paul Owens Award winner set career highs in starts and innings.
Nick Pivetta, RHP – A midseason Eastern League All-Star, Pivetta made 27 starts in 2016 between double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 23-year-old right-hander went a combined 12-8 with a 3.27 ERA (54 ER, 148.2 IP), allowing three earned runs or fewer in 21 his 27 starts. Originally selected by Washington in the fourth round of the June 2013 draft, Pivetta was acquired in exchange for right-hander Jonathan Papelbon in July of 2015.
Alberto Tirado, RHP – Moved into the starting rotation midway through the season, Tirado’s 14.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched led the Phillies minor league system. The 21-year-old appeared in 22 games (11 starts) between single-A Lakewood and single-A Clearwater, going 7-1 with a 3.90 ERA. In his 11 starts, Tirado posted a 2.19 ERA (14 ER, 53.1 IP) and struck out 37.4 percent of the batters he faced (83 SO, 222 BF).
Jesmuel Valentin, 2B – A 22-year-old switch-hitter, Valentin appeared in a combined 125 games between double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. He batted .269 with 76 runs, 19 doubles, five triples and nine home runs. His 50 walks marked a professional-high as he posted a .341 on-base percentage. Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in between the first and second rounds of the June 2012 draft, Valentin was acquired from Los Angeles for right-hander Roberto Hernandez in August of 2014. Valentin is the son of former major league infielder, Jose Valentin, who played 16 years in the majors (1992-2007).
Nick Williams, OF – The third-ranked prospect in the Phillies minor league system according to MLB.com, Williams played in 125 games for triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2016. His six triples were tied for most in the system with Roman Quinn and his 33 doubles tied for third. Williams, 23, manned all three outfield positions in 2016, appearing in 50 games in left field, 38 in center field and 35 in right field. Acquired from Texas as part of the Cole Hamels deal on July 31, 2015, Williams was drafted by the Rangers in the second round of the June 2012 draft.
Additionally, the Phillies have designated right-handers David Buchanan and Jimmy Cordero for assignment. With the additions of Anderson, Appel, Cozens, Garcia, Knapp, Lively, Pinto, Pivetta, Tirado, Valentin and Williams, the Phillies now have 40 players on their 40-man roster.
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Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys!
