To add to the competition, the Phillies announced their list of 23 non-roster invitees on Tuesday ahead of their big league training camp. Among the group included some promising top prospects such as Aidan Miller, Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, together with other players with varying amounts of major league experience. But two surprising names that stood out were veterans Joel Kuhnel and Rodolfo Castro.
Phillies’ surprise veteran minor league signings earn spring training invites
Kuhnel is a former 11th-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in the 2016 MLB Draft. However, the 29-year-old right-hander has yet to establish himself despite having spent parts of five seasons in the majors. His most prominent season came in 2022 when he appeared in 53 games for the Reds, posting a 6.36 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 56 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.
Overall, Kuhnel has compiled a 4-3 record with a 5.86 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 76 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings of work over 82 career relief appearances. Having officially signed a minor league contract with the Phillies back in December, he hopes to finally get the chance to show what he can do with a perennial contender.
As for Castro, most Phillies fans will remember him as the disappointing trade deadline addition made by Philadelphia back in 2023. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates as the de facto replacement for the departed utilityman Josh Harrison at the time, Castro ended up playing in just 14 games down the stretch for the Phillies. He put up a dismal .100 batting average and .256 OPS, along with just two runs scored and two RBI in 32 total plate appearances.
Castro was looking for redemption with the organization for the 2024 season, but nagging injuries limited him to just 23 minor league games overall. Despite all of that, the Phillies were willing to give him another go-around when they re-signed him to a minor league contract last November, shortly after he elected free agency.
Kuhnel will have an outside shot at making the Phillies’ bullpen for 2025, given the depth of their relief corps is practically non-existent beyond the expected starting seven of Romano, José Alvarado, Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, José Ruiz, Orion Kerkering and possibly Taijuan Walker.
