WYOMISSING — If the final three months of the 2014 season were an audition, Russ Canzler left a lasting impression.
An impression that has the Philadelphia Phillies’ brass anxious to see how he fares this spring against major league pitching.
The Phillies re-signed the 28-year-old Hazleton native to a free-agent contract in November with an invitation to spring training.
With the Phillies’ left field situation unclear and bench positions available,
the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Canzler will be one of the players the Phillies’ staff will be watching when games begin next month.
“He’s going to get a chance to swing the bat,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Tuesday at the annual Phillies Winter Caravan stop at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing. “He’s a very good, quality person, and that’s one of the things that’s important if we’re considering him for a bench spot.
“One of the things we wanted to target was good people. We want to try to build a quality clubhouse, which is something I think we need to improve on. It behooves us to put some of our young players around professionals who we feel we’d like to have them emulate.
“We know that Russ is a good guy. He’s a good person and he’s a team-type player. We’ll see what happens with him.”
Canzler signed with the Phillies on June 25, 2014, after being released by the New York Yankees. A first baseman/outfielder, Canzler hit .263 (46-for-199) with 25 runs, 12 doubles, two homers and 24 RBIs in 51 games with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees before being released.
Canzler was sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he battled .286 (61-for-242) with 32 runs, 20 doubles, 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 61 games with the IronPigs.
“As far as last year is concerned, Russ really impressed us with his ability, the way he played the game and his professionalism,” Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan said. “He’s a true pro. We would not have re-signed him if we didn’t feel like that at some point in time, if we had the right need, that he would not be able to help us in Philadelphia.
“He has a chance to help us in Philadelphia. And we told him that and that’s why we wanted to re-sign him.”
Jordan said Canzler’s work ethic and character were two big traits that made it easy for the Phillies to bring him back.
“He was great for our club. He’s been around. He’s played in the big leagues,” Jordan said. “He had a lot to offer the younger guys that were there and a lot to offer the older guys, too, as far as how he goes about it.
“For me, that was an easy decision. We’re glad to have him back.”
A 2004 draft pick of the Chicago Cubs, Canzler played seven seasons in the Cubs’ system, reaching as high as Double-A. A six-year free agent, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011 and had a monster season, hitting .314 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs at Triple-A Durham and earning International League MVP honors.
His play in 2011 earned Canzler a September call-up to Tampa, where he played in three games and went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Canzler had his contract purchased by Cleveland for the 2012 season and hit .265 with 22 homers and 79 RBIs at Triple-A Columbus. He played in 26 games at the major league level for the Indians, hitting .269 (25-for-93) with three homers and 11 RBIs.
Since then, however, Canzler has played in Triple-A for four different organizations (Orioles, Pirates, Yankees and Phillies). His experience is something that excites the Phillies’ brass.
“I’m glad he’s going to big league camp,” Jordan said. “He’s going to get to play in front of our major league staff. They need to see that. There’s a couple of people who are really interested in seeing him play.”
Canzler played for Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg for three seasons in the Cubs’ minor league system. Sandberg said Tuesday that Canzler is among a group of players that will get to show the Phillies their talents in hopes of earning a big league roster spot.
“I had Russ for three years in the minor leagues and I’m anxious to see him. I haven’t seen him in a couple of years,” Sandberg said. “There’s some new guys that will be in camp and it’s evaluating time. He’ll be one of those guys getting a look.
“It comes down to who will step up and put together a camp or show the ability that they will be one of the 25 guys leaving or be a guy that’s waiting in a need situation.”