MIAMI – The Phillies' travel agent could be feeling left out.
On Friday, the first day in which major-league rosters can expand by as many as 15 more players, no new Phillies rookies arrived at Marlins Park, and there was a simple reason for that.
The kids, most of them at least, are already here, many of them called up long ago.
There was one new arrival on Friday. Veteran reliever Juan Nicasio, who was acquired off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday – which happened to be his 31st birthday – showed up.
But other than that, it was all quiet on the roster front.
"A lot of the young guys who we would've called up are already here," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Mackanin has a point, and here's a look:
Catcher Andrew Knapp made his major-league debut on April 6. Phillies right-hander Mark Leiter made his major-league debut on April 28, two days before right-hander Nick Pivetta.
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Righty reliever Ricardo Pinto came up May 31. June brought Ben Lively (June 3), lefty reliever Hoby Milner (June 24) and rightfielder Nick Williams (June 30).
On July 29, righty reliever Jesen Therrien made his debut. And August brought first baseman Rhys Hoskins (Aug. 10) and righty reliever Yacksel Rios (Aug. 22).
All 10 of those rookies are still on the roster.
September reinforcements, likely next week, could include outfielders Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr, both of whom are trying to rehabilitate hamstring injuries.
Herrera, in a rehab game at Double A Reading on Thursday, went 2 for 2 with two runs scored, two RBIs, one homer to dead center and one bat flip.
"Odubel may be a little bit ahead of Altherr," Mackanin said. "But they are both doing OK."
As for 22-year-old shortstop and 2013 first-round pick J.P. Crawford, he could join the Phillies on Tuesday.
"I'm not sure who's coming, but there are a few names who have been dropped," Mackanin said. "I will find out in the next day or two. Our Triple A season ends Monday, and I imagine we will see somebody on Tuesday.
"It's always exciting to see young players, to see how they look, especially if they are coming to the big leagues for the first time. It's always fun to welcome them to the big leagues. This is a big step for all of them."
The 2017 Phillies, more than most teams, certainly know all about that.
