Bush, Gillies among first Phillies cuts

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies made their first nine cuts of spring training and there were no surprises.

Righthanders Dave Bush, Austin Hyatt, B.J. Rosenberg and lefthander Pat Misch were reassigned to minor-league camp. Infielders Harold Garcia and Cesar Hernandez, outfielder Tyson Gillies, catcher Sebastian Valle and righthander J.C. Ramirez were optioned to minor-league camp.

Garcia was also outrighted off the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old Venezuelan will miss most of the season after microfracture surgery on his right knee. He missed almost all of 2011 with a torn ACL.

The Phillies' 40-man roster now stands at 38 players.

Gillies had extensive playing time in early Grapefruit League play. He hit 3 for 21 (.143) with a double. The Phillies were just happy to see him healthy and playing after almost two years of lost time because of various leg injuries. He was one of three players, along with Ramirez, acquired in the Cliff Lee trade.

Bush, 32, figures to lead the rotation at triple-A Lehigh Valley and should provide decent depth. The Conestoga graduate allowed four runs in 5 1/3 spring innings. He's made 187 career major-league starts.

He'll be joined in the IronPigs rotation by Hyatt, who could be the only homegrown starter at triple A. In five spring innings all against the Yankees, Hyatt allowed four runs on three hits and three walks in five innings.

Valle, one of the organization's top position player prospects, will follow the best pitching prospects to double-A Reading.

There are 48 players remaining in big-league camp.

Contact Matt Gelb at mgelb@phillynews.com or follow on Twitter @magelb.