Phillies Have Enviable Catching Depth 

CLEARWATER, Fla.—Big league manager Pete Mackanin had heard many good things about catching prospects Andrew Knapp and Jorge Alfaro over the winter.

Now, he has a visual to go with the positive reports.

Knapp and Alfaro both impressed the skipper during their month in big league camp.

“I like what I saw from both of them,” Mackanin said as the two backstops were sent to minor league camp to get ready for the their seasons.

The Phillies selected Knapp in the second round of the 2013 draft out of California. He had Tommy John surgery soon after signing but broke out in a big way in 2015, batting .308/.385/.491 in 118 games at high Class A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. The 24-year-old switch-hitter amassed 13 homers and 35 doubles.

Knapp will jump to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He went 4-for-16 in camp with a double and a homer.

“I like Knapp’s swing from both sides of the plate,” Mackanin said. “I like his approach. He’s a good-looking hitter. With a little polish, he might be ready later this year.”

The Phillies targeted Alfaro as part of their haul from the Rangers in the Cole Hamels trade last July. He has recovered from an ankle injury that required surgery last summer. He will head to Reading this season after hitting .253/.314/.432 in 49 games at Double-A Frisco in the Texas system in 2015.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Alfaro wowed Phillies officials with mammoth power in batting practice.

“He’s the full package,” Mackanin said. “He really caught my eye. He runs good for a catcher, and his throwing arm is the best I’ve seen for a catcher, maybe ever.”

Cameron Rupp, the projected big league starter in 2016, will get the first chance to show he’s the Phillies’ catcher of the future, but Knapp and Alfaro aren’t far behind.

PHIL-UPS

• The Phillies intend to open the season with two Rule 5 picks on the big league roster: outfielder Tyler Goeddel and lefty reliever Daniel Stumpf.

• Righthander Vince Velasquez, one of five starting pitchers acquired from the Astros for closer Ken Giles, made the big club’s rotation. He joined fellow second-year big league righties Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff in the front five.