Szczur released, so is 60-man player pool

While the Phillies have the option of doing some late tweaking, they gave an indication of who they plan to go to short-season war with Sunday night with the release of their 60-man player pool.

With Villanova football and baseball star Matt Szczur, 30, and righthander Drew Storen released from their minor league deals earlier in the day, the Phillies only totaled 53 players and have the option of adding more later with seven available spots.

One signed player ... one of the highest paid on the team ... also isn’t on the list as yet. That’s Odubel Herrera, last seen serving a suspension in 2019 after a domestic incident in Atlantic City.

Also not listed, not yet anyway, is relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez, who has been placed on the 60-day injured list with a sprained right elbow.

Of course it’s also interesting to see who is on the list, and that would include the organization’s top prospects, respectively pitcher Spencer Howard and presumed third-base heir Alec Bohm, both of whom were expected to compete at Triple-A this season.

It’s likely both will be returned to the minor leagues by the start of the season, along with a host of other players on the pool list.

All teams had until 4 o’clock Sunday to file a 60-player pool of eligible players ahead of the official (re-)opening of training camp on July 1. The Phillies are expected to hold workouts at both Citizens Bank

Park and farther up and across Pattison Ave. at FDR Park. A season schedule is still to come, with the first games expected July 23-24, coronovavirus willing.

MLB teams are allowed to open this irregular season with a 30-man final roster, which will be pared by four within a month after the start of the season.