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Following this weekend’s roster trimming, the Phillies announced a smaller second wave of Spring Training roster paring Monday.
Catcher Deivy Grullon was optioned to Lehigh Valley, while infielder Arquimedes Gamboa was optioned to Reading and four-corners player Austin Listi was reassigned to minors camp.
The #Phillies option C Deivy Grullon to Lehigh Valley (AAA) and INF Arquimedes Gamboa to Reading (AA). They reassign INF Austin Listi to minor league camp.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) March 9, 2020
The biggest-impact move here is Grullon. Presumed backup catcher Andrew Knapp has yet to make an appearance this spring as he heals from a torso injury, which means that the team is down to four catchers in Major League camp: Knapp, J.T. Realmuto, Christian Bethancourt, and Henri Lartigue. The team can, however, still borrow players from minor league camp as needed, such as early camp standout Rafael Marchan, or even Grullon again.
Gamboa is on the team’s 40-man and had a nice showing this Spring (.286/.421/.500 in 19 PA), but he clearly needs a larger sample of success during the regular season to overwrite his recent years of offensive futility. Listi, who the team tried at third base this Spring to mixed results, also departs on an offensive high note (.333/.417/.476) and figures to see time all over the diamond in Triple-A this year.
There are 61 players remaining in Major League camp.