The Philadelphia Phillies continue to pare down their spring training roster as Opening Day approaches, announcing their fourth round of cuts on Wednesday morning. Seven more players were sent to the minor league camp, reducing the major league camp to 43 players.
Included among the seven players were two of the team’s Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline: Carlos De La Cruz, ranked No. 13, and Símon Muzziotti, ranked No. 19. Both moves were somewhat expected, as neither player currently holds a spot on the 40-man roster.
Pitcher Nick Nelson, the sole 40-man player in this round of cuts, was optioned to Triple-A. The other non-40-man roster cuts included pitcher Nick Snyder, outfielder Matt Kroon, infielder Nick Podkul, and catcher/first baseman William Simoneit.
Carlos De La Cruz, a 24-year-old outfielder/first baseman standing at an imposing 6-foot-8, struggled to showcase his power during Grapefruit League play, batting .214 with a .481 OPS in 30 plate appearances. After an impressive 2023 season in Double-A where he hit 24 home runs, he may start the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Símon Muzziotti, also 24, was removed from the 40-man roster during the offseason to make room for Max Castillo. The right-handed hitting outfielder didn’t make a significant impact during spring training, posting a slash line of .125/.300/.125 in 20 plate appearances.
Nick Nelson, aged 28, appeared in five Grapefruit League games, pitching 8 2/3 innings with mixed results. Despite finishing with a 2-0 record, he struggled with a 6.23 ERA and 7.65 FIP, along with a 1.27 WHIP. His strikeout numbers were notably low, with just two strikeouts in 35 batters faced during spring training. Despite these challenges, Nelson had a respectable showing in his brief stint with the majors last season, giving up only one solo home run in 5 1/3 innings while striking out three batters and limiting the Mets to two hits.
