2018 Reading Fightin Phils Preview

The minor league season is underway, and Jeff has even been to games and reported on them. It is however, only April so there are still 4 and a half months to go.

Quick Pitch:

Reading is known for the offense the park generates. Each year a prospect or two has their breakout season hitting for power and average. This year Reading brings a squad low on hitting talent, but high on pitching talent. The Reading rotation is headed by 3 good pitchers in Franklyn Kilome, Ranger Suarez, and JoJo Romero. This year the bullpen also includes a group of hard throwers who could dominate the late innings. The lack of impact hitting may limit Reading’s playoff upside, but they should be competitive all year.

Top Hitter: Cornelius Randolph

When the Phillies took Randolph in the first round, he was supposed to be a polished hitter. The Phillies have only partially seen that in the time since. After making plenty of contact in Lakewood, Randolph retooled his swing to hit for more power. The power showed up in the normally power devoid Florida State League, but Randolph’s strikeout rate spiked. Even with the power improvements, Randolph probably only has above average power, and does not have the physicality to add much good muscle. On defense, Randolph is a left fielder all the way, and while he has made some improvement since moving there, he has not become a great defender. Randolph looks more like a 4th outfielder than a regular, but there is a chance he can combine his hit tool and power tool to be an average regular. While he is physically mature, Randolph will only be 20 on opening day in Reading, so he does have time to make some of the improvements he needs.

Top Pitcher: Franklyn Kilome

Once talked about as a pitcher with near limitless potential, Kilome has shown plenty of limits in the past few seasons. Kilome’s fastball velocity has stabilized at 92-96, touching 97+. He can struggle at times to locate the pitch and can have whole starts where his command is not present. His plus curveball is a hammer of a pitch that he has shown the ability to throw for chases or strikes. Last season, Kilome reintroduced his slider, but it is still an inconsistent pitch, though it has some potential. His changeup has not shown improvement and is more of a low velocity fastball. With his fastball and curveball, it is easy to see how Kilome could be a mid rotation or better starter, but with his issues throwing strikes and his lack of a good third pitch, it is also easy to see how that same fastball-curveball combination would play better as a reliever. The Phillies won’t be relying on Kilome to impact the major leagues as a starter this year, but he will need to show that he can stay in the rotation.

Breakout prospect: Jan Hernandez

Jan Hernandez was the Phillies’ 3rd round pick in 2013 and has struggled for much of his career to do anything but hit for power. During the 2017 season the Phillies gave him some reps in right field, where he suddenly became a great defender, using his strong arm to throw out runners with impunity. Hernandez made some improvement to his swing to tap into more power, but he still swings and misses at a high rate. Hernandez struggled greatly against righties, but mashed left handed pitchers all year. Hernandez has a tough road to the majors, but as we saw with Mitch Walding last season, the Reading park can suddenly resurrect careers.

The Roster:

Placement on my Phillies Top 50 prospect rankings indicated in parentheses next to each player.

Lineup:

C Deivi Grullon
1B Kyle Martin
2B Emanuel Marrero
SS Malquin Canelo
3B Damek Tomscha
LF Cornelius Randolph (19)
CF Zach Coppola
RF Jan Hernandez

Grullon is a defense first catcher who has yet to show any ability to hit. He is still only 22. Kyle Martin didn’t hit well in Reading last year, but the hulking lefty has big raw power. Emanuel Marrero is a good defender at all infield positions, but lacks impact in his bat. Malquin Canelo has not hit since Lakewood, and despite having great defensive tools, he still makes too many mistakes in the field. Damek Tomscha has become a very valuable org player. He can hit, he has power, and he can play all 4 corners. He may eventually get a major league cup of coffee, but more likely he will continue to be an anchor in minor league lineups. Coppola is a good defender in center with at least plus speed. He has a good approach and feel for contact, however his lack of power limits his ceiling to bench outfielder.

Starting Pitchers:

Franklyn Kilome (9)
Ranger Suarez (18)
Jacob Waguespack
JoJo Romero (12)
Harold Arauz

Ranger Suarez had a breakout 2017 season, with his fastball velocity seeing a big jump from around 90 to sitting 91-95. He pairs the fastball with a good slider and changeup. When on, Suarez fills the strike zone and rarely walks batters. If he can keep his velocity and continue to grow his offspeed pitches, he could be a mid rotation starter, but he profiles more as a good #4. Jacob Waguespack is another 2017 breakout prospect. The tall righty moved to the rotation full time and saw his results take off. Waguespack can reach the mid 90s, and he gets great extension and deception from his delivery. Waguespack’s secondary pitches are poor and his delivery has a lot of moving parts, making his future likely in the bullpen. JoJo Romero established himself as the Phillies top left handed pitching prospect by blitzing A ball. Romero is short, but solidly built. His fastball sits in the low 90s, but he can run it up to 95-96. His changeup is a plus pitch, and his slider and curveball are solid. Romero will need to translate his control into command in order to be a #3 starter, but his changeup gives him more upside than Suarez. Harold Arauz does not have the raw stuff of his rotation mates, but he throws strikes and utilizes his curveball to miss bats and keep hitters of balance. His future is probably as a AAAA reliever.

Bench:

Zach Green
Brandon Bednar
Jiandido Tromp
Heiker Meneses
Cord Sandberg

Zach Green has missed a bunch of time due to injury. He has plus raw power, but has struggled with his approach and pitch recognition. Brandon Bednar is a journeyman minor leaguer whose primary position is second base. Jiandido Tromp can play all three outfield positions and has average power and speed. He will probably play on a fairly regular basis and will likely be the first promoted to AAA if a space opens up. Heiker Meneses is a utility infielder with many years of minor league experience. Cord Sandberg finally tapped into his power last year, but he is still struggling with his approach and contact at the plate.

Bullpen:

Trevor Bettencourt
Seth McGarry
Edgar Garcia (37)
Garrett Cleavinger
Seranthony Dominguez (14)
Tyler Gilbert
Luke Leftwich

The Fightins have an uncommonly talented bullpen for the AA level. Trevor Bettencourt throws in the low 90s with a good curveball. Bettencourt has good command, but his lack of overpowering stuff means he is probably a middle reliever. Seth McGarry came over in the Joaquin Benoit trade. He is a short righty with a mid 90s sinker, but his secondary pitches are not great, and his control has wavered at times. Edgar Garcia has moved back to the bullpen full time. The short righty had a fastball up to 95 in the rotation and a good slider. He is only 21, so the hope is that a full time move to the bullpen unlocks more velocity and upside. Garrett Cleavinger has struggled since being drafted by Baltimore. He joined the Phillies in the Hellickson trade, and his problems have continued in his new organization. He has a low 90s fastball, but poor command. Seranthony Dominguez is the best relief prospect the Phillies have had in years. Dominguez is moving from the rotation to the bullpen, and the Phillies have narrowed his arsenal and let him loose. His fastball is electric and sits 94-98 and has touched 99. His slider is a power pitch at 88-90 with sharp downward movement. His control has been shaky, but if he can control his pitches more, he profiles as a high leverage late inning reliever. Tyler Gilbert has a low 90s fastball from the left side. A move to the bullpen for Luke Leftwich worked out well last year, as his fastball velocity ticked up to 94-96. The increased velocity and his slider gives him major league upside.

Help on the Way:

Mario Sanchez
J.D. Hammer (41)
Elniery Garcia (44)
Drew Stankiewicz
Alberto Tirado (42)

Mario Sanchez had a good year for Reading last year before an arm injury. He is more of an org arm. J.D. Hammer gets a lot of publicity for glasses and names, but he is a solid relief arm. His fastball touches the upper 90s, and he is showing feel for a good slider. His control has come and gone, but if he can locate his pitches he profiles as a good major league reliever. He should be back from a limited Spring Training soon. Elniery Garcia had a breakout 2016 season, but after missing much of 2017 to a PED suspension and arm injury, his velocity is down and his offspeed pitches lack impact, and he now profiles more as a #5 SP or reliever. He will miss the start of the 2018 season due to injury. Drew Stankiewicz is a utility infielder with a good hit tool who tapped into his power more last year. Alberto Tirado has lost some velocity, but he still sits mid to upper 90s in a bullpen, with a plus two plane slider. The problem with Tirado continues to be his inability to consistently throw strikes. If he can have below average control, he could still be a major league reliever.

Season Expectations:

Reading’s season is going to go the way of their pitchers. If their top 3 starters and bullpen pitch to their talent, the team should be fine. Reading’s lack of top prospect hitters will have them looking for a former prospect or org bat to have a hot season. Reading should be in contention for a playoff spot, but the 2018 team will not be on par with the 2015 or 2016 teams.