B.J. Rosenberg

The Phillies struggled to find consistent relief options last season and gave Rosenberg a chance to show his stuff despite the mediocre numbers he was putting up at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He did not seize his opportunity during a brief look early in the season, but worked his way into a late-inning role after getting recalled in mid-August. Rosenberg credited his late-season success with an alteration to the grip on his slider. If he can continue to find success with that pitch, it could prove to be an excellent complement to his mid-90s fastball. He will have a shot at earning a middle-relief role this spring.

Rosenberg got his first taste of the majors last year as the Phillies gave many of their younger arms a chance to help stabilize a shaky pen. Rosenberg didn't really help the team with bullpen stability, but he did show a few signs of why the Phillies like him. He has a mid-90s fastball that he complements with a slider and change-up. His strikeout rate remained very good in his transition to the majors, but his control fell apart. Perhaps he was overthrowing as his BB/9IP had been much better in the minors. The Phillies will likely give Rosenberg a chance to earn a bullpen job this spring, but he'll need to show improved control to earn a job.

Rosenberg went 5-7 with a 4.28 ERA and a 103:38 K:BB ratio in 109.1 innings at Double-A Reading last season. Rosenberg has good stuff but he is also already 26-years-old and has yet to hit Triple-A. He'll compete for a bullpen job this spring, but figures to open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Rosenberg, a 13th-round draft pick in 2008, throws a fastball in the mid-90s and a slider he is developing as a strikeout pitch. He spent the majority of last season ad Single-A Lakewood, where he struck out 65 batters and walked just 10, before moving up to Double-A. The Phillies are expected to start him off at Double-A this season and with a strong season he could find himself competing for a bullpen job next spring.