The Philadelphia Phillies are just 12 days away from Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season. As the date approaches, the team has made another round of roster moves.
Seven players were announced as being sent to Minor League Camp: pitchers Koyo Aoyagi, Jose Cuas, Joel Kuhnel, John McMillon, Guillo Zuniga, and left-handed pitcher Nick Vespi. Infielder Rodolfo Castro is also heading to Minor League Camp.
One name that stands out is Koyo Aoyagi. After nine years with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, Aoyagi joined the Phillies, having posted 82 wins, 61 losses, and a 3.0 earned run average. In three innings of Spring Training, he had a 12.00 ERA, six strikeouts, and a 3.00 WHIP. Aoyagi will begin the 2025 season in Triple-A with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn
Another player reassigned to Minor League Camp is pitcher John McMillon. In the five innings he pitched in spring training, McMillon has not allowed an earned run, has six strikeouts, and has a 1.20 WHIP.
McMillon garnered attention during spring training, and he could see Major League action for the Phillies during the 2025 season.
The other most notable player is the infielder, Rodolfo Castro. In 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Castro for Bailey Falter. Since then, Castro has bounced between the Phillies’ Major League and Minor League rosters.
His 2025 spring training was underwhelming, as Castro hit just .038 in 26 at-bats, with a .232 OPS and one stolen base. Castro will look to reset in the Minor Leagues to start the 2025 season.
Cuas finished his spring training with a 14.40 earned run average in five innings. Kuhnel had a 4.15 earned run average in four and a third innings with four strikeouts in his spring training. Zuniga had a 10.13 earned run average in two and two-thirds innings, while Vespi had a 1.80 earned run average in five innings.
Phillies’ Opening Day is on March 27th, against the Washington Nationals in Washington, DC.
