Baseball is starting in Clearwater and it’s time to take another look at who might be headed to Allentown at the end of March to play for the 2026 IronPigs.
It’s a fool’s errand of course. There are many things that might happen on our way to that Triple-A opening roster, but it’s fun to get to know the names ahead of time and to watch these guys on TV during Spring Training games. The first look was back on Christmas Day, you can find it HERE.
2026 Potential ‘Pigs
Catcher:
Garrett Stubbs:. With JT Realmuto back, he’s caught in the same numbers game as last season. But, he has a new deal and he’ll be making very nice money working in East Allentown–probably more than anyone else.
René Pinto: 83 games in the Majors with Tampa. 54 games in Reno last season in Triple-A.
Others To Know: Mark Kolozsvary, Paul McIntosh, Caleb Ricketts
They’ll likely carry three catchers so expect to see one of these guys, likely the veteran from Cincinnatti and Baltimore, Kolozsvary, or a rookie Escalona-type.
First Base:
Keaton Anthony: .902 OPS in Reading to start last season. Carson Taylor got hurt and he came to Lehigh Valley and hit .313 with a .807 OPS before suffering his own injury. We expect him at 1B almost every day.
Others who could play at 1B: Felix Reyes, Backup Catchers
Reyes got here last season and should return. He might get a look in the corner outfield and at DH.
Other Infielders:
Aiden Miller: The top prospect should start every day and bat in the top two. Expect to see him at third base plenty.
Christian Cairo: He’ll mostly switch off on the left side of the infield. His Dad Miguel Cairo is part of why I started writing about the IronPigs many moons ago. Perhaps I’ll tell that story some time.
Dylan Moore: He’s a MLB veteran and has some nice positional flexibility. He also reportedly has a Spring Training opt-out, so maybe he never gets here. If he does, he’s a nice guy to have.
Liover Peguero: Saw “Peggy” with Altoona as he was coming up with Pittsburgh. He’s a fiery, exciting player who will play in the middle of the infield. He has 291 MLB games in Pittsburgh.
Erick Brito: We thought he would be over-matched in Triple-A last season but he came in and slashed .250/.341/.313 with 36K and 17BB and always seemed to come through in clutch spots. We expect him back in a bench role to start the season.
More Infielders To Know: Robert Moore and Jose Rodriguez are the veteran guys from the Reading roster. The smart money and best bet is on them starting 2026 in Baseballtown then coming up as needed with opt-outs, injuries, and the like.
Outfielders:
Bryan De La Cruz: Split last season between Gwinnett and Scranton in Triple-A, and has MLB time with Miami, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. He’s key outfield depth for the big club. He’s also a right-handed bat.
Gabriel Rincones Jr.: He mashed in Spring last season, but took some time to get going at Triple-A. He’s a lefty who mashes right-hand pitching the the Phillies like him that way. He’ll platoon, even here.
Pedro León: Cup of coffee with Houston in 2024. Spent the last few years with Sugar Land, where the diminutive Cuban hit .299 in 2024.
Johan Rojas: With Weston Wilson gone to Baltimore, he could still get a bench spot in Philadelphia where he could add a right-handed bat, base-running, and defensive replacement help. If not, he’ll be here.
Other Outfielders To Know: Dylan Campbell is a NRI in Phillies camp who spent all of last season in Reading. Justin Crawford is expected to earn the MLB starting gig in center field, but if not they’ll keep him off the 40-man and get him every-day work in Allentown. Dante Nori is a first-rounder who got the NRI, but has only a handful of games in Reading, where he’ll likely start. Cade Fergus is clutch. Austin Murr is a soft-hitting lefty who got brief time in Toledo last season, coming up in the Tigers organization.
Starting Pitchers
Tucker Davidson: Started 23 of 36 games at AAA over the past two seasons with Nashville. 15/15 in 2022 with Gwinnett. Lefty born in Texas.
Bryse Wilson: Has started 99 games in the minors. Swing man for Charlotte last year. Mostly a reliever in the big leagues.
Jean Cabrera: Time to sink or swim at AAA? Or time to move to the bullpen?
Yoniel Curet: Had seven starts for Durham last season. Came from Tampa in Tommy McCollum trade.
Alan Rangel: Welcome back.
Adam Seminaris: 22 starts at AA last season with 3.02 ERA.
Others you might see:
Jonathan Bowlan: Big righty was the return for Matt Strahm. He’s likely out of options and is mostly a reliever in the Majors, but could be stretched out–has many starts in the Minors.
Moisés Chace: Returning from injury. Might need rehab, then Reading first.
Seth Johnson: Probably remains as a reliever, but he did start a bunch of games for us in 2024. Might be out of options.
Mitch Neunborn: Swing man from South Africa can start when you need him to. Was here for a minute last season, but profiles mostly as a Double-A guy we think.
Andrew Painter: We’re expecting him to make the Phillies, but if he needs more time we’ll give him regular starts here.
Relief Pitchers
This is the toughest group because in many ways the Dombrowski administration just likes to throw numbers at this position to see what happens. Some of the potential starters above could be included here, as could a couple 40-man dudes with options and some home-grown guys. Here are the non-roster invitees who the MLB coaches are watching:
Génesis Cabrera: Pitched for four MLB teams last season. Lefty.
Jonathan Hernández: Long-time Texas reliever made his way to Seattle last season.
Tim Mayza: Allentown kid went to Millersville and had a nice run in Toronto. Phillies brought him back on a minors deal.
Michael Mercado: Is he the one that got the extra option?
Trevor Richards: Extensive MLB time, is here on a minors deal.
Daniel Robert: They brought him back on a minors deal.
Andrew Walling: Returns
Lou Trivino: Returns on a minors deal. Reportedly has a Spring opt-out.
We probably missed someone. Add in the comments for all to see, please.
Enjoy the Spring Games folks, we’ll see you at the park for “Pig Day” soon!
@Kram207
Be First to Comment