Arizona Fall League is this weird combination of high level hitters getting extra at bats, Rule 5 eligible relievers trying to show off, and low level hitters just trying to make an impression, all surrounded by filler that is better than org guys. Also it is all played in a launching pad of a league. It is the arena of snap judgement and small sample craziness. The Phillies typically send a good hitting prospect and then a bunch of filler. Scott Kingery, J.P. Crawford, and Cornelius Randolph have all made recent trips. This year they send the second best pitching prospect in the league in Sixto Sanchez (the best is Forrest Whitley who will be sharing a Scottsdale squad with the Phillies). Sanchez has been injured since June, but theoretically should be fully ramped up for the fall. Joining Sanchez will be fellow Threshers Arquimedes Gamboa and Luke Williams, as well as current Reading Fightins Austin List, Darick Hall, Tyler Viza, Luke Leftwich, and Seth McGarry. Not every one of those guys is a household name, so lets run through them all.
Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Age 20
At this point Sanchez is pretty well known in the Phillies system. He is a near consensus top 20 prospect and baseball and might be top 10 if he didn’t have an elbow injury this year. He is a short (though there are rumors he has grown a little bit), athletic right hander with an electric arm. Sanchez will routinely sit 96-99, touching up 102. The pitch has electric life and he has shown the ability to manipulate the shape. He will throw a changeup and slider that flash plus or better, and a curveball that is at least average. He has plus control, but does need to polish up his location some. His upside is as high as anyone in the minors and a healthy AFL could lead to a 2019 placement in AA and a chance at a 2019 debut.
Arquimedes Gamboa, SS, Age 20
Gamboa entered the year as a top 10 prospect in the Phillies system and a rough year in Clearwater has knocked his stock a bit, but he still has plenty of upside to be excited about. He is an athletic shortstop who will show a plus glove in the field. At the plate he will show surprising power and a great approach. Neither of those where on display in hi-A, especially in the second half. There is a chance he is wearing down (he is currently 32 games over his career high and still has regular season and playoffs to go), and this wouldn’t be the first time the Phillies have placed a challenge in front of him. He is Rule 5 eligible after the year, and while he is not ready enough to stick in the majors, the Phillies may be forced to protect him based on talent.
Luke Williams, 1B/3B/OF, Age 22
Williams is a weird prospect. He spent his first three years in the organization as a low power, high speed third baseman. His 9 home runs this year represent a large power spike, and he didn’t run as much this year. While his offensive stat line (.253/.326/.367) is not spectacular, it does represent a large improvement for the 2015 3rd round pick. He also is no longer just a 3B, playing first and second base, as well as all 3 outfield positions. His optimistic future is as a bench bat, but 2018s large departure from his previous outputs makes him interesting.
Tyler Viza, RHP, Age 23
Viza had a breakout 2016 season, showing an increase in stuff across the board. While a poor time in AA dampened some expectations, he still was an interesting back end starter candidate with two solid pitches. After a terrible 2017, the Phillies moved him to the bullpen for 2018, where it also went terrible. However, after returning to the Reading rotation at the beginning of May, Viza has been on fire. He may not have big upside, but there may still be a AAAA SP in there.
Darick Hall, 1B, Age 23
Hall is all about power, he has plus or better raw power, and with 25 home runs he is leading the Phillies organization this season. Unfortunately thanks to a .225 average in AA, he has a season after of .245. In Reading his strikeout rate has climbed and his walk rate has plummeted. There are major questions about Hall’s hit tool and pitch recognition. The AFL may not be the best place to face premium offspeed pitches, but there are talented enough arms there to give Hall a test. If he can’t get on track in the high minors he may quickly relegated to the org fodder bin.
Austin Listi, 1B/OF Age 24
Listi was a 5th year senior when the Phillies took him the 17th round of the 2017 draft. Unlike Hall, Listi’s drop in stats in AA has taken him from godly, to just good. He is having an excellent August, showing growth in his approach. To say Listi is a max effort player might be an understatement. He plays the game hard, including things like swinging really hard. The problem is that his raw hit tool and athleticism aren’t great and his best defensive position might be DH. He has good raw power, but nothing special as a bad LFer or ok 1B. Maybe he can hit his way into a major league role, but there are some actual physical limitations which may hold him back.
Luke Leftwich, RHP, Age 24
The bullpen has been a good home for Leftwich, a fact many suspected when he was drafted. He lacks putaway stuff in a relief role, but his velocity has ticked up since he was a starter, and he has mostly junked his changeup. He is fastball-slider, with the fastball topping out around 96. His command can come and go, but he has enough stuff that with a break here or there he could be an up and down middle reliever.
Seth McGarry, RHP, Age 24
McGarry is a short RHP who came over from the Pirates at the 2017 deadline for Joaquin Benoit. He throws in the low to mid 90s with heavy sink on his fastball. The big problem for McGarry has been his control, and he has 40 walks in 62.2 innings. Much like Leftwich, he is a few improvements here and there from being the up down reliever that modern teams like to have around.
Image of Sixto Sanchez by Baseball Betsy