As baseball's offseason takes shape, we will take a look at each player on the Phillies 2020 roster and where they fit in the future. We'll go through the roster by uniform number, lowest to highest for position players, highest to lowest for pitchers, and alternate daily.
Today: Infielder/outfielder Phil Gosselin
Career rundown
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Local guy from West Chester and Malvern Prep went on to star at the University of Virginia. He was selected by Atlanta in the fifth round of the 2010 draft and rose to the majors three years later. He has appeared in the majors each of the last eight seasons with six different clubs. He hit his way onto the Phillies’ roster in 2020 and spent the entire season in the majors. His versatility and ability to have good at-bats off the bench make him an ideal utilityman.
How he became a Phillie
He signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies each of the last two offseasons and played his way onto the roster.
2020 season
MLB
Gosselin quite literally hit his way onto the opening day roster with a torrid performance in summer camp and kept it going through the first month of the season. He homered twice in the Phillies’ first win of the season and carried a .362/.423/.617 slash-line through August 28 and his first 52 plate appearances. He tapered off in September, hit just .150 and finished at .250 for the season.
As a designated hitter, he had 13 hits, including two doubles and two homers, in 33 at-bats. He was 15 for 54 against left-handed pitching.
Defensively, he played first base, second base, third base, left and right field.
What lies ahead
Gosselin, who just turned 32, has had to fight for every job he’s gotten in the big leagues. It’s not clear if the Phillies will keep him on their 40-man roster this winter, but he’ll end up in someone’s camp again next spring and play his way to the majors at some point. Gosselin impressed manager Joe Girardi with what he can do off the bench, particularly against left-handed pitching, so he might be right back with the Phillies.
Long-term, this is a guy the Phillies need to consider keeping after his playing days. He’s a hard worker and a baseball guy through and through. He knows how tough it is to battle for a job every year, to push through the ups and downs that make a baseball season such a grind. He’d be a great farm director someday, but it doesn’t have to stop there. He’ll finish his degree in Economics from Virginia in the spring. He’s smart and has people skills. He knows Philadelphia and the demands of playing here. This guy might end up being a great general manager or even a club president someday. Really. He’s a big-time prospect.