The 2016 GCL Phillies had one of the most statistically dominant rotations I have seen at the minor league level. The rotation started with Sixto Sanchez who posted a 0.50 ERA in 11 starts, but then followed with Mauricio Llovera (1.87), Nick Fanti (1.57), Luis Carrasco (2.18), Kyle Young (2.67), and Will Stewart (4.06). It wasn’t just ERA, that group of pitchers were among the league leaders in strikeouts and Sanchez, Young, Fanti, and Llovera were great at limiting walks as well. Ultimately the GCL Phillies would lose in the GCL Championships. This year the Phillies brought in a brand new set of pitchers, and as of now are have the best record in the GCL thanks to this new crop of teenagers.
When I previewed the GCL season, they only had one big name arm on the roster in RHP Francisco Morales. Based on history, the expectation would be that the Phillies had some breakout Latin American pitchers around Morales, instead it is the rise of some lefties. So why don’t we meet the core of this rotation?
- Francisco Morales, RHP, Age 17 – 29.0 IP 25 H 3.41 ERA 15 BB 28 K
- Morales is the best prospect of the group. He has a big 6’4″ frame and a fastball that already touches 96. His slider flashes plus potential, and he shows feel for a good changeup. His control still needs work, and he is not going to rocket up through the system like Sanchez did.
- Manuel Silva, LHP, Age 18 – 40.0 IP 36 H 2.93 ERA 11 BB 26 K
- This is the second year that the 6’2″ lefty has been the workhorse of a short season staff. Silva has been 89-92 this season, but is listed at 6’2″ 145 so there is time for him to fill out and add more velocity. For now the main concern is that he is not missing bats at the GCL level.
- Jhordany Mezquita, LHP, Age 19 – 26.2 IP 12 H 1.01 ERA 11 BB 29 K
- Mezquita was the Phillies’ mystery man on draft day when they took him in the 8th round out of no school. The 6’1″ lefty has seen his stuff tick up a little bit over the season as he is pitching regularly and he was reportedly sitting 91-92 T93 in his last start. Mezquita also shows feel for a curveball. He has a bit of a roundabout journey, so he is still a bit raw.
- Ethan Lindow, LHP, Age 18 – 22.0 IP 16 H 1.64 ERA 7 BB 31 K
- The Phillies took Lindow in the 5th round of the 2017 draft. He is a projectable 6’3″, which is needed because he is only sitting in the mid to high 80s right now. He flashed the arm strength to get up to 92 in high school, so the Phillies are betting they can bring that out and more once he is in their pitching program. His changeup is his best secondary pitch.
If Silva, Mezquita, and Lindow don’t blow you away, that is fine, because neither did Ranger Suarez, Kyle Young, Bailey Falter, or Elniery Garcia at the same level. When you are looking at the bottom levels of the minors you are looking for flashes and in this case all three lefties are showing future promise. If Morales can be the Kilome or Medina of this group and one of these players can be a good backend of a rotation pitcher, the Phillies will be very happy with that outcome.
Moving away from the developmental side, the side affect of this is that the GCL Phillies are won of the best teams in the GCL this season. They came into Wednesday’s game with the 2nd best ERA in the GCL and the most runs scored. Their lineup has two big hitters in the middle in OF Ben Pelletier and 1B Quincy Nieporte, but it really built on putting the ball in play. They lead the league in not striking out and are hitting a league leading .270/.345/.391. If they can keep their team intact they should be one of the favorites heading into the GCL playoffs.