David Dahl welcomed top Astros pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti with a first-pitch RBI double down the right field line on Friday afternoon. Dahl’s swing was brief and sweet.
He joked a few hours later that he felt like he was going to pass out while rounding first base because it was his first at-bat in five days. Like a lot of players in the Phillies’ clubhouse, Dahl had struggled with a sickness over the week that prevented him from playing for a few days. It was his first time playing since Sunday against the Braves in North Port. He batted eighth after starting in left field.
Dahl is vying for the last bench position with the Phillies while in camp as a non-roster invitee with a minor league contract.
Only one bench slot would be available for a group that includes Weston Wilson, Cristian Pache, Jake Cave, Dahl, and a few other long shots if Johan Rojas makes the Opening Day roster. There would be two bench slots available if Rojas does not make the squad and instead starts the season at Triple A, which would increase the likelihood that someone like Dahl makes the roster.
This spring, the left-handed hitter and former Rockies All-Star is 5-for-19 with two home runs and a double.
“He’s been great,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s actually looked pretty good against left-handed pitching, the couple at-bats he’s had. He’s another depth piece for us, another option for us.”
On April 1st, Dahl turns 30. With Colorado, he hit.297/.346/.521 from 2016 to 2019 and was selected to the National League All-Star squad in 2019 after hitting.302 with a career-high.877 OPS in 413 plate appearances.
A shoulder injury altered the course of his career. He struggled through the abbreviated 2020 season while dealing with it, then was non-tendered by the Rockies that December with pandemic cost-cutting cited as a factor.