Phillies reassign Abel, McGarry and others to minor-league camp originally appeared nbc sports philadelphia
The Phillies optioned right-handed pitcher James MacArthur to Triple A ahead of Sunday’s spring training game against the Blue Jays and reassigned six other right-handers, including Mick Abel and Griff McGarry, to minor-league camp.
Abel, McGarry, Andrew Baker, Francisco Morales, John Duplantier and Billy Sullivan were reassigned to pitchers. MLB.com has Abel and McGarry as the Phillies’ No. 2 and 3 prospects behind Andrew Painter, who Currently sidelined with an elbow sprain And won’t throw up for the next three weeks.
Baker and Morales are two of the Phillies’ top relief prospects. Baker has a three-point fastball, while Morales has found success with his slider. One or both could find themselves in Philadelphia this season. Baker turns 24 at the end of this month and Morales turns 23. McGarry could also be a mid-to-late-season bullpen option.
MacArthur (6-7/230) has appeared in five games this spring, allowing three runs with six strikeouts over five innings. A 12th-round pick in 2018 from the University of Mississippi, MacArthur made 13 starts last season with Double A Reading, compiling a 5.05 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 26 walks in 57 innings.
Duplantier is a 28-year-old with 19 big-league games of experience with the Diamondbacks in 2019 and 2021. He started seven games in those two seasons. The Phillies signed him to a minor-league deal on January 4, but he did not appear in spring training games due to a hamstring injury.
Sullivan had 77 runs in 51 innings last year at Double A.
The Phillies optioned outfielders Jhilin Ortiz and Simon Muzziotti to Triple A and Johan Rojas to Double A after Sunday’s game. Defensively, Muzziotti and Rojas are both major-league ready and could play a role for the Phillies sometime in 2023 if Brandon Marsh misses time.