Phillies announce prospect roster for “Futures Game” series

Roman Quinn and J.P. Crawford will face the Phillies' big league club on Thursday and Saturday (Frank Klose/Philliedelphia)

The Phillies are doing something new in 2016 as Grapefruit League play ends and the Phillies season begins: The Futures Series.  The series will feature the Phillies' top prospects facing the Major League club in two games.  The first will be Thursday at 6:05 at Reading's First Energy Stadium.  The second is on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.

The roster, courtesy Phillies Twitter, is as follows:

• Catchers: Jorge Alfaro, Andrew Knapp
• First base: Brock Stassi, Rhys Hoskins
• Second base: Scott Kingery, Jesmuel Valentin
• Shortstop: J.P. Crawford, Malquin Canelo
• Third base:  Angelo Mora, Mitch Walding
• Outfield: Roman Quinn, Carlos Tocci, Andrew Pullin, Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens, and Aaron Brown
• Designated hitter: Tommy Joseph
• Relief pitchers: Victor Arano, Miguel Nunez, Tom Windle, Joely Rodriguez, and Edubray Ramos
• Starting pitchers: Zach Eflin and Mark Appel (Thursday); Jake Thompson and Ricardo Pinto (Saturday)

The Major League club will have a few extras as the final roster takes shape.  That roster will be clearer as the Phillies head north.