Rosters, rosters, rosters- 2021 opening day is almost here

With the minor league season set to get started on Tuesday, May 4th, the Phillies' four full-season teams unveiled their initial rosters today.

Of note is the absense of rising infield prospect Kendall Simmons, who is apparently sidelined with an undisclosed injury.  The middle infielder was active in spring training action in recent weeks, but was contributing as a designated hitter.  He's likely being kept at the Phillies' complex in Florida in order to focus on recovery and limit unnecesary travel.

Also, as reported recently on my Patreon page, pitcher Albertus Barber got a late start to his spring season due to an unspecified nerve issue.  He's healthy, but needs to ramp up his efforts in order to get game-ready before he joins a team.

One of the Phils' most promision pitching prospects, Erik Miller, is also absent from these lists.  No word yet on what the situation is with this hard throwing 24-year-old, who was ranked as the organization's 5th best prospect this year by this outlet.  

Other key prospect names missing include outfielder Simon Muzziotti, infielder Jamari Baylor and lefty hurler Ethan Lindow. 

The following are excerpts from team press releases, listing each club's initial roster.

The initial 2021 Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster breaks down as follows:

PITCHERS (17): RHP Enyel De Los Santos, LHP Kyle Dohy, LHP Bailey Falter, RHP Neftali Feliz, RHP J.D. Hammer, RHP Spencer Howard, LHP Damon Jones, LHP Rob Kaminsky, RHP Mauricio Llovera, RHP Adonis Medina, RHP Bryan Mitchell, LHP David Parkinson, RHP David Paulino, RHP Ramon Rosso, LHP Cristopher Sanchez, LHP Jeff Singer, LHP Ranger Suarez

CATCHERS (3): Edgar Cabral, Jack Conley, Rafael Marchan

INFIELDERS (5): Greg Garcia, C.J. Chatham, Darick Hall, Austin Listi, Luke Williams

OUTFIELDERS (4): Travis Jankowski, Mickey Moniak, Cornelius Randolph, Josh Stephen

From Double-A Reading...

The roster features just five players that have worn a Fightins uniform prior to 2021: RHP Tyler Carr, RHP Colton Eastman, RHP Julian Garcia, LHP Jonathan Hennigan, LHP Jakob Hernandez, and INF Arquímedes Gamboa.

The Opening Day roster includes southpaw pitchers Ethan Evanko, Lindow, Hennigan, Hernandez, Taylor Lehman, and Zach Warren. They are reinforced by righty’s Appel, Andrew Brown, Carr, Joel Cesar, Eastman, Garcia, Kyle Glogoski, McArthur, Morales, and Austin Ross.

The Fightins will have three catchers listed on their roster to begin 2021 including 22-year-old Durán, 25-year-old Colby Fitch, and 24-year-old Nick Matera. Durán played 64 games for Clearwater back in 2019 where he boasted a 1.000 fielding percentage. The backstop caught 26 runners stealing and in 529 innings he only allowed ten passed balls.

The position player group features a wide variety of players whose strength and power at the plate and mobility and range on the diamond are sure to lead to much success. The R-Phils only have one listed outfielder on their Opening Day roster. Matt Vierling has spent time at all three spots in the outfield.

Matt Kroon, Luke Miller, and Madison Stokes can stunt as utility players all around the diamond, but have played the majority of their time in the infield. All three of them with the addition of McCarthy Tatum are corner infielders spending many games at first and third base. Gamboa is likely to be the starting shortstop, while fans might also see Dalton Guthrie and Sal Gozzo make appearances there. Guthrie and Daniel Brito are middle infielders who will split time at second base.

From the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws...

30 players will make their way to the Jersey Shore to open the 2021 campaign.

PITCHERS - Mike Adams, Benjamin Brown, Blake Brown, Kevin Gowdy, Josh Hendrickson, Jonathan Hughes, Adam Leverett, Brian Marconi, Tyler McKay, Jhordany Mezquita, Jack Perkins, Dominic Pipkin, Mark Potter, Victor Santos, Noah Skirrow, Billy Sullivan, Aneurys Zabala, Braden Zarbnisky

CATCHERS - Vito Friscia, Herbert Iser, Logan O'Hoppe

INFIELDERS - Chris Cornelius, Nate Fassnacht, Jonathan Guzman, Rudy Rott, Cole Stobbe, Bryson Stott

OUTFIELDERS - Keaton Greenwalt, Hunter Hearn, Jhailyn Ortiz

Lastly, from the Class A Clearwater Threshers...

Roster Breakdown:

Pitchers (18): Mick Abel, Tyler Adams, Tyler Burch, Dylan Castaneda, Starlyn Castillo, Cristian Hernández, Nick Lackney, Fernando Lozano, Alejandro Made, Rafael Marcano, Jordi Martínez, Gunner Mayer, Carlo Reyes, Rodolfo Sanchez, Eduar Segovia, Victor Vargas, JP Woodward, Gabriel Yanez.

Catchers (2): Christopher Burke, Abrahán Gutiérrez

Infielders (6): Luis Garcia, Edgar Made, Casey Martin, D.J. Stewart, Nicolas Torres, Rixon Wingrove.

Outfielders (4): Hunter Markwardt, Ben Pelletier, Johan Rojas, Corbin Williams.