The last time we saw someone in a Phillies uniform was July 25, 2015. Cole Hamels had just capped off a no-hitter in Chicago against the Chicago Cubs for his last Phillies appearance. He would be traded to the Texas Rangers just days later. In the time since, no one has worn number 35. That will change in 2018.
Phillies bullpen coach Jim Gott will wear the number in 2018. Number 35 was Gott's number during the core of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Phillies should ever re-acquire Hamels when he hits free agency as soon as this winter, it would certainly be easy to give back.
One number that will remain out of circulation is number 11. All-time Phillies hits leader Jimmy Rollins wore the number from 2001 through his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2014, minus 2003 when he wore number 6. This could indicate some plans for the future for the jersey.
New Phillies hitting coach John Mallee would certainly wear number 11 if it was available. As chronicled in this FoxSports.com piece, Mallee's late father served as a member of the Army's 11th airborne division in World War II. Growing up, the elder Mallee had asked his son to wear number 11 and learned after his father's death why. So if anyone was going to wear the number, Mallee would certainly have a good reason.
Mallee will wear number 33, last worn by pitching coach Rick Kranitz, who wrestled his preferred number 39 away from Adam Morgan, who will wear number 46.
Despite Jim Thome's election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, number 25 will remain in circulation. If you do not see it in camp, it is because it was assigned to catcher Eric Fryer. Fryer decided to retire instead of reporting to Phillies camp.
The Phillies have previously announced that they would hold number 34 out of circulation for now to honor the late Roy Halladay. The Toronto Blue Jays will retire Halladay's number 32 this season. The last Blue Jay to wear number 32 was former Phillie Brett Oberholtzer, who wore the number in Spring Training but did not make the club. Coincidentally, Oberholtzer wore Halladay's number 34 with the Phillies, too.
