Philadelphia Phillies Prospects: Non-Roster Invite Pitchers

Let's face it—April can't come fast enough. Have no fear, for pitchers and catchers report in about two weeks.

Until then, I will be informing the Philadelphia fan of prospects and hopefuls and what they may bring to the table come game time.

This is part one of a six-part series that examines all non-roster invites and minor-leaguers on the 40 man roster until the season gets underway, so without further to do, here are your non-roster invitee pitchers.

Carlos Carrasco—RHP, 20

Carrasco is a bona fide future Phillie. Last season, as some pitchers in Philadelphia were faltering, fans were hoping Carrasco would get a call. The truth is, it simply wasn’t time and the Phillies could not afford to add him to the 40 man roster.

He started the season out in Clearwater (A) and was called up on June 20 to Reading (AA). In 2006, he and Andrew Barb combined to throw a no hitter for Lakewood. 

This past season Carrasco threw a rain-shortened six inning no hitter for Reading, the 10th in Reading history and first since September 2001. He combined for a 3.86 ERA to go with 12 wins and six losses and a .224 batting average against. He currently has a major league ready fastball and changeup but needs to refine his curve. 

He was recently rated as the 28th best prospect in all of baseball by MiLB.com and the best prospect in the Phillies organization. He will most likely start the season in Reading (AA).

Ron Chiavacci—RHP, 30

Chiavacci is a well-traveled minor league veteran. He has been in the Montreal, Detroit, and Pittsburgh systems before agreeing to come to spring training with the Phillies. He is a local boy—a Kutztown University graduate born in Scranton, PA. Last season for Toledo (AAA, Detroit) he threw 151.1 innings and achieved a 3.39 ERA in 23 starts, the most for him since 2001.

Chiavacci is a longshot to make the squad, but a good spring combined with a good showing at Lehigh Valley (AAA) could award him with his first MLB call up if someone in the current pen should falter. Chances are, however, he’ll be auditioning for other teams during the spring.

Vic Darensbourg—LHP, 37

Darensbourg has been a member of six different MLB pitching staffs in the past 10 years. He has amassed an 8-12 record and a 4.96 ERA. His last MLB team was Detroit in 2005 where, in 22 games, he achieved a 2.82 ERA with one win and one loss. 

This is the kind of production the Phillies are looking for if one of their bullpen arms break down during the season. He has signed to a minor league contract so it is a good bet that he will be sent to Lehigh Valley (AAA) after the spring.

Darensbourgh was once traded with three other players by the Marlins to the Rockies for Juan Pierre and Mike Hampton.

Gary Knotts—RHP, 30

Last season Knotts was playing for the Newark Bears of the independent league when the Phillies signed him and placed him in Reading (AA) to fill in for a depleted roster. He made the most of his opportunity, posting a 0.83 ERA in his time there.

He was then called up to Ottawa (AAA) where, in a brief stint, he had an ERA near six. In his second of three starts with Ottawa he threw for seven shutout innings, only giving up two hits against Rochester. His performance in Reading caught the eye of the Phillies, who gave him an invite to spring training. 

Brian Mazone—LHP, 31

Mazone has been in the Phillies system for a few years. In 2006 he was promoted from Reading (AA) to Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA). He lead the international league in ERA (2.06) and tied for second in wins (13).

Then, something happened in 2007 and, to be frank, it is hard to decipher what really went on. Some sources say he decided to try his luck in Japan, but another source says Chris Coste talked him out of it. His stats show he only pitched 36.2 innings last season, but no explanation can be found.

Either way, he was lights out in AAA two years ago and last year he had an ERA of 2.21. Mazone should get a serious look this spring to make the team in the pen as an emergency starter/long man.

Josh Outman—LHP, 23

Outman is a good looking prospect in the Phillies system. Last season he started out in Clearwater (A) and posted a very respectable 2.45 ERA with 10 wins. He was called up to Reading (AA) and struggled, putting up a 4.50 ERA with two wins in seven starts.

He has refined his delivery to a more conventional stride. He had been using a delivery taught by his father but thought pro scouts wouldn’t give him a fair look unless he had a conventional arm motion. Since the switch, he has been very productive, living up to his last name.

Outman will not make the team out of Clearwater, but should land in either Reading (AA) or Lehigh Valley (AAA). He might be a September call up, but he could and probably should stay in the minors all season long.

Joe Savery—LHP, 22

Savery was the Phillies first round pick out of Rice in 2007. He played in the New York-Penn league after signing a contract and played for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League.

He is a player who can do anything. When he graduated, he was considered one of the premier hitters in college baseball, but will focus on pitching with the Phillies. He was a second team All-American his sophomore and final season with the Owls. 

He will stay in the minors this season and may make it up to Reading (AA).

Matt Smith—LHP, 28

Smith is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not be a factor this season for the Phillies.

This season’s AAA pitching staff should be quite productive. Outman, Mazone, Knotts, and possibly Carrasco in addition to Scott Mathieson could count for a number of wins out of the starting rotation and effective options in Philadelphia should a crisis ensue.

Information was gathered from Phuture Phillies, Baseball-Reference, the Baseball Cube, MiLB.com, and Phillies.com.