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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 non-roster invitees who could crack the main roster

By David Esser

Aug 25, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler (27) pitches during the bottom of the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler (27) pitches during the bottom of the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Phillies Hector Rondon
Aug 23, 2020; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Hector Rondon (28) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Hector Rondon, RHP

Another veteran reliever who could be poised to crack the major league roster, Hector Rondon is the type of guy who could easily end up as a key piece to the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen this season. While his 2020 numbers were pretty disastrous, his career ERA is 3.49, which is pretty darn good!

Prior to his collapse last season, Rondon was one of the more consistent right-handed relievers in all of baseball. He was a steady late game option for the Cubs between 2013 and 2017 (77 total saves), and then turned around and contributed two above average years to the Houston Astros.

Combine his strong resume with his abundance of postseason experience, and it’s quite clear why the Philadelphia Phillies deemed him worthy of a look this spring.

Unlike Kintzler, Rondon will likely have to “earn” his way into the major league bullpen. While his track record is impressive, his 7.65 ERA last season could be a precursor to regression. He’s still only 32 years old so there’s reason to believe he’s got plenty of gas left in the tank, but you simply never know.

If he shows up to Spring Training looking more like his pre-2020 self, one can only assume the Phillies would find a spot for him on the main roster.

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