Notes: 'pen update; CF battle; Rojas excels

The Phillies’ eight-man bullpen is coming into focus.

They granted right-handers Héctor Rondón and Iván Nova their releases on Thursday. Both had opt-out clauses, which they enacted Wednesday. The Phillies had until Saturday to decide, but neither stood a chance to make the team so they were released early. Rondón had been a bullpen candidate. Nova had been rotation depth and a long-relief candidate. The Phillies have not announced decisions on right-hander Brandon Kintzler or left-hander Tony Watson), who also activated their opt-out clauses. The belief is that Kintzler will make the 26-man roster. Watson’s situation is less clear.

“I feel we’re pretty close,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said about final decisions on Kintzler and Watson.

Héctor Neris, Archie Bradley and José Alvarado are locks to make the bullpen. Connor Brogdon and JoJo Romero are heavy favorites. If Kintzler makes the team, too, it leaves Watson, Sam Coonrod, Vince Velasquez, Spencer Howard and David Hale competing for the final two jobs. Girardi has said he prefers two long relievers. Velasquez and Hale fit the bill. They are out of Minor League options, which gives them an edge over Howard.

However it shakes out, the Phillies’ bullpen will look much different than it did on Opening Day 2020: Neris, Adam Morgan, José Álvarez, Deolis Guerra, Tommy Hunter, Cole Irvin, Trevor Kelley, Reggie McClain, Ramón Rosso, Austin Davis and Nick Pivetta.

“It’s nice to have these options, to give guys an opportunity to compete,” Girardi said. “Some guys have more experience than they did last year. Look at a Brogdon and Romero. They both have more experience. So does Spence. Last year, they were guys that had never pitched in the big leagues. So, it is nice. Adding Alvarado has been a big piece. Archie has been a big piece. So, there’s a lot more depth and we have to make some tough decisions. But usually when you have to make tough decisions in Spring Training, it’s a good thing.”

Girardi said he expects Rondón (7.71 ERA in seven innings) and Nova (7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings) to find jobs elsewhere, so they are unlikely to remain with the organization.

Down to Herrera and Quinn
Odúbel Herrera and Roman Quinn are the finalists for the Opening Day job in center field, although Adam Haseley could make a late push onto the 26-man roster. Herrera started in center field on Thursday night in the Phillies’ 13-12 win over the Yankees at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla. He went 0-for-3 with one strikeout. Quinn started in left field. He also went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Quinn has played better recently. He is batting .294 with a .792 OPS this spring. But Herrera, who is batting .209 with a .646 OPS, has a better overall track record.

“The offense is key,” Girardi said. “Obviously, defense is important. We want to play good defense and I feel that all these guys can. But the offense is important because we want to have a lineup that’s a nightmare to get through. Again, I’m going to say it, what we start with April 1 is not necessarily what we’ll be May 1, June 1, July 1.

“I know [Herrera] is capable of being really productive. And I think his at-bats have been pretty good in Spring Training. He’s faced a ton of lefties, and I take that into account.”

Rojas continues to impress
Johan Rojas is the organization’s No. 8 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He singled to left field and stole second and third base in the eighth. He then hit a game-winning, walk-off single to right in the ninth.

Girardi is a Rojas fan.

“He has a chance to be a special player,” he said. “He’s a plus-plus defender, he’s a plus runner. I believe there’s Gold Glove potential there. He has bat speed. He has a ton of tools. He’s very coachable and picks up on things quickly.”

Extra bases
• Alec Bohm exited the game in the fourth inning because of some tightness in his left groin. Girardi said he is day to day. Bohm was not scheduled to play Friday anyway. “Had it been the regular season, he would have kept going,” Girardi said.

• Right-handers Zach Eflin and Spencer Howard felt fine after throwing simulated games Wednesday. Both have been sidelined since last week because of back issues. Eflin is scheduled to pitch Monday, which puts him on track to start the third game of the season on April 4. Girardi said Howard -- the club's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- still has a chance to make the Opening Day roster. If he does, he will open in the bullpen.

• Infielder Brad Miller (oblique) continues to improve. Girardi said he hopes Miller can play in a Grapefruit League game, but is not certain it will happen.

• Alvarado allowed his first run of the spring in a wild two-thirds of an inning. He threw three wild pitches and walked three. “He was overthrowing a little bit,” Girardi said. “He got his stinker out of the way.”

• Catcher Logan O’Hoppe hit a three-run homer to left field in the eighth, his first hit of the spring. O’Hoppe, the Phillies’ No. 28 prospect, grew up a huge Yankees fan. Fans might remember him smiling ear-to-ear during an at-bat in an exhibition game at Yankee Stadium last July.