A Very Early IronPigs Roster Primer

Figuring out what a Triple-A roster will look like more than a month out from Opening Day is less science, more art, and an exercise in futility. What will happen between now and when the IronPigs open the season at Coca-Cola Park on March 27^th against the Toledo Mud Hens is anyone’s guess and whatever does happen will have reverberations and ramifications on the IronPigs rosters. While the Phillies roster is mostly set, except for the fringes, it is those very fringes that will dictate what the IronPigs roster looks like.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of breaking down the ‘Pigs position groups, it’ll be good to take a look at the Phillies key roster battles to understand how those will affect the ‘Pigs.

Backup Catcher

The incumbent, Rafael Marchán, has the inside track here but it is still going to be a battle between primarily him and IronPigs/Phillies favorite Garrett Stubbs. Stubbs spent all but September as the ‘Pigs primary backstop last year, but comes into camp this year with no more minor league options remaining. He did sign a “split contract” that will pay him considerably more than the MiLB minimum should he be in the minors. That could be a factor if he is exposed to waivers, making another MLB club potentially less likely to claim him. While the decision last year between Marchán and Stubbs was in part dictated by Marchán’s lack of options while Stubbs had one remaining, that differentiator is gone this year. It seems unlikely the Phillies will carry three catchers, meaning one of these two will have to be exposed to waivers before camp breaks. If either clears waivers, they’d be with the ‘Pigs.

Final Bench Spot

This is really the only other position player battle coming into camp this is wide open. The Phillies bench will be some combination of: Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Marchán/Stubbs, and then the final bench spot, likely a right-handed hitting outfielder (or at least outfield capable). Does that go to a non-roster invite like Bryan De La Cruz or Dylan Moore? Johan Rojas would be the best defensive fit, but with a minor league option still remaining, getting consistent at-bats with the ‘Pigs is alluring. Ditto goes for Pedro León, coming off of an injury plagued 2025. Whoever the roster spot does go to ultimately, that leaves the outsiders likely headed to Lehigh Valley and forming the core of the IronPigs lineup.

Final Two Bullpen* Spots

There is an asterisk on the bullpen here because although it will be two bullpen spots filled on Opening Day, once Zack Wheeler is healthy it will likely be down to one with a starter moving into the bullpen or the Phillies maybe going to a six-man rotation. Whatever the decision, once Wheeler is healthy (hopefully sooner rather than later) that’s one fewer arm the Phillies need and one more arm the ‘Pigs get. It is an important consideration as it appears Andrew Painter and Taijuan Walker will round out the Phillies rotation to start the year with Wheeler out. Walker has bullpen experience while Painter does not. But as things presently stand with Walker and Painter in the rotation that gives the Phillies one more bullpen slot to use between a combination of Nolan Hoffman, Seth Johnson, Zach McCambley, Zach Pop, Chase Shugart, Génesis Cabrera, Jonathan Hernández, Tim Mayza, Trevor Richards, and Lou Trivino. Hoffman, Johnson, and Shugart are all on the 40-man roster (with MiLB options), Pop is on the 40 but with no options remaining, and McCambley is a Rule 5 pick, meaning if the Phillies want to keep him he has to stay on the Major League roster for the season. This list also assumes Jonathan Bowlan (acquired from the Royals for Matt Strahm) is a lock for the Phillies bullpen as constructed.

Got all that? With that context in mind let’s take a look at the pool of players by position for the IronPigs to start the year. As Spring Training wears on, we’ll break down position-by-position who we actually think is likely to be on the Opening Day roster (and beyond) and dive into those players.

And to reiterate again, this is not an Opening Day roster projection! This is just an exercise to see where that roster will likely be pooling players from.

Prospects like Dante Nori, Aroon Escobar, (whispers) Gage Wood, will almost assuredly not start with the ‘Pigs. Could they be up later in the season? Absolutely, if all goes to plan I’d think that would be the case. If time allows, we may even have an article prior to the season looking at who to keep an eye on of the guys that won’t start with the ‘Pigs.

(Bold indicates 40-man roster, Italics indicates Non-Roster Invitee)

Pitchers

Kyle Backhus

Andrew Baker

Andrew Bechtold

Kyle Brnovich

Genesis Cabrera

Jean Cabrera

Yoniel Curet

Ryan Cusick

Jack Dallas

Tucker Davidson

Tristan Garnett

Evan Gates

Connor Gillispie

Daniel Harper

Jonathan Hernandez

Nolan Hoffman

Estibenzen Jimenez

Seth Johnson

Chuck King

Max Lazar

Tim Mayza

Alex McFarlane

John McMillon

Michael Mercado

Colin Peluse

Zach Pop

Alan Rangel

Trevor Richards

Daniel Robert

Adam Seminaris

Chase Shugart

Levi Stoudt

Lou Trivino

Andrew Walling

Bryse Wilson

That’s a lot of names! 34 to be exact. Takes a lot of pitching to get through a season. With the prior context of the Phillies pitching situation (and some of these names likely to open with Reading) this list will be whittled down by Opening Day. On first glance, a nucleus of a rotation with Alan Rangel, Jean Cabrera, Tucker Davidson, bullpen stocked with 40-man guys (Backhus, Hoffman, Johnson, Shugart) and some intriguing NRIs (Bechtold, Cabrera, Hernandez, Mayza, Trivino, Richards, Mercado, Wilson). What stands out is it is a veteran over prospect group. The Phillies have emphasized stockpiling depth (bullpen and rotation) and it bears out here.

Catchers

Garrett Stubbs

Rafael Marchán

Mark Kolozsvary

Paul McIntosh

Rene Pinto

Stubbs and Marchán are the big wild card here. Not just which one is on the Phillies bench, but if the other ends up in Lehigh Valley. If that player is claimed on waivers, a Kolozsvary, McIntosh, Pinto trio is likely.

Infielders

Keaton Anthony

Alex Binelas

Erick Brito

Christian Cairo

Aidan Miller

Dylan Moore

Liover Peguero

Felix Reyes

Jose Rodriguez

Combination of prospects and NRIs and in a quirk, no 40-man guys. Dylan Moore is the real wild card as he’s in a battle for the Phillies last bench spot. Moore can play all over the diamond, but even without him, the ‘Pigs infield is rock solid. Left to right around the diamond of Cairo-Miller-Peguero-Anthony with Felix Reyes DHing is not a bad start. Erick Brito served admirably in a bench/utility last year and a reprisal of that is on the table.

Outfielders

Dylan Campbell

Bryan De La Cruz

Pedro León

Gabriel Rincones Jr.

Johan Rojas

Now this is where things get meaty. It seems like León, Rincones Jr., Rojas, are on the outside looking in for the final Phillies bench spot. If they all end up in Lehigh Valley, that’s your outfield. And a really good triple-A outfield at that. De La Cruz could be a fit for the Phillies bench as a right-handed bat, but even adding him into the fold with the ‘Pigs provides even more depth and would require some shuffling to get everyone requisite at-bats.

To be honest, there are quite a few more names that I’ve left out, especially on the position player side. Mostly those are names who have not appeared at double-A yet (or have very limited double-A experience). But on the whole, this group of players would likely be the pool that I’d guess the Phillies will select from to comprise the IronPigs Opening Day roster. As Spring Training rolls on we’ll break it down position-by-position to get a better look of what the Opening Day roster will look like.