Phillies roster: Top prospect Spencer Howard officially a big-leaguer

It's finally official: Top prospect Spencer Howard was added to the Phillies' roster Sunday afternoon. J.T. Realmuto will catch Howard's MLB debut tonight against the Braves.

To make room for Howard on the active 28-man roster, the Phillies optioned Cole Irvin to Lehigh Valley. To make room for Howard on the 40-man roster, they designated Enyel De Los Santos for assignment.

Though there will be no fans or family members in the stands for his debut, there has been plenty of hoopla surrounding Howard's first start. Over the last two decades, the Phillies' only homegrown pitchers who arrived to this much hype were Cole Hamels and Aaron Nola.

It probably won't be a long start for Howard, who had been facing hitters at the Phillies' satellite site in Lehigh Valley. Something in the range of 60 to 75 pitches seems reasonable.

On Saturday, Phillies pitching coach Bryan Price described what makes Howard such an intriguing, high-ceiling prospect.

Howard will face a Braves lineup that had gone cold before breaking out for all five of their runs in the fifth inning of their Game 1 win. Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuña Jr. entered Game 1 hitting a combined .207. Freeman then went 3 for 4 with a double and Acuña hit a two-run homer. The Phillies have to hope that doesn't carry into the final two games of the four-game series.

The Phillies needed three innings from their bullpen in Game 1 but did not use Hector Neris, Jose Alvarez or Tommy Hunter, three of the relievers they trust the most.