Former Phillies Catching Prospect Lou Marson Among Invites to Clearwater

The Phillies have announced that former top 50 prospect (and top three prospect in the system) Lou Marson has been invited to spring training. Maron, who was traded to Cleveland in the deal that brought Cliff Lee to the Phillies in 2009, was once a highly regarded catching prospect in baseball. His Cleveland career saw him get pretty steady playing time from 2010-12 but the offense was never really there and in 2013 he only appeared in three games at the big league level before being DFA'd this off season.  Phillies fans probably remember him best for hitting a home run in his major league debut in the final game of the 2008 regular season.

Other invites include outfielders Tony Gwynn Jr. and Dave Sappelt and pitcher Sean O' Sullivan, whose brother Ryan O' Sullivan is currently in the Phillies system. Sappelt and Gwynn could have a nice battle for an extra outfielder spot on the big league club. Marson and O'Sullivan are most likely key players on the 2014 Iron Pigs.