Name: Eduardo Tait
Position: C
Born: 8/27/2006
Bats/Throws: L/R
Height/Weight: 6’0″ 175lbs
How Acquired: International Free Agent (2023 Class)
Signed: 1/15/2023
Bonus: $90,000
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2027
MiLB Free Agency: 2029
Stats
Prospect Rankings
Role: First Division Regular
Risk: Extreme – Tait hit the ball very hard for a 16 year old in 2023, and he does look like he should stick behind the plate long term. However, he is physically mature for a teenager, but with many of the same hit tool concerns as a teenager, and while he should stick at catcher, he doesn’t currently project to be a plus defender.
Summary: Tait was not the biggest money signing of the Phillies 2023 class (just $90,000), but he was getting some buzz even before he signed. He was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, players in pro ball last year, beating the signing cut off by less than a week. He is definitely larger than his listed height and weight, and while fairly physical now, there look to be ways to shape his body positively as he grows up. The bat is the special thing for him. He hit the ball hard all year, and while he probably can get the ball in the air a bit more, he mostly hit laser line drives. His swing is fairly simple, with great bat speed and good bat control. His approach at the plate is inconsistent, and he will show some patience in one plate appearance and then hack a bit more in the next. He swung and missed a bit in the zone because of this as well. Given his age and experience level, the negatives are not fatal flaws, but they will be watch points, and gaining consistency at the plate will definitely be a focus for him. The lack of age and experience is evident on defense. He looks stiff and mechanical at times, particularly in how he receives and frames. He has a strong arm, and he controlled the running game. He should improve with repetition, but he doesn’t have a feel for the position that stands out for his level. There is a chance that his bat outpaces his glove and the Phillies have to leave him at certain levels for the glove to catch up. There is also a chance that his offense suffers as he shoulders more catching burden. Given his production at his age, Tait has that special look, and if he can repeat his 2023 in 2024 he may establish himself as one of the top catching prospects in the minors.
2024 Outlook: The Phillies will bring Tait stateside in 2024 and he should play in Extended Spring Training and then the Florida Coast League, where he will likely be the youngest in the league.
Role: First Division Regular
Risk: Extreme – Tait hit the ball very hard for a 16 year old in 2023, and he does look like he should stick behind the plate long term. However, he is physically mature for a teenager, but with many of the same hit tool concerns as a teenager, and while he should stick at catcher, he doesn’t currently project to be a plus defender.
Summary: Tait was not the biggest money signing of the Phillies 2023 class (just $90,000), but he was getting some buzz even before he signed. He was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, players in pro ball last year, beating the signing cut off by less than a week. He is definitely larger than his listed height and weight, and while fairly physical now, there look to be ways to shape his body positively as he grows up. The bat is the special thing for him. He hit the ball hard all year, and while he probably can get the ball in the air a bit more, he mostly hit laser line drives. His swing is fairly simple, with great bat speed and good bat control. His approach at the plate is inconsistent, and he will show some patience in one plate appearance and then hack a bit more in the next. He swung and missed a bit in the zone because of this as well. Given his age and experience level, the negatives are not fatal flaws, but they will be watch points, and gaining consistency at the plate will definitely be a focus for him. The lack of age and experience is evident on defense. He looks stiff and mechanical at times, particularly in how he receives and frames. He has a strong arm, and he controlled the running game. He should improve with repetition, but he doesn’t have a feel for the position that stands out for his level. There is a chance that his bat outpaces his glove and the Phillies have to leave him at certain levels for the glove to catch up. There is also a chance that his offense suffers as he shoulders more catching burden. Given his production at his age, Tait has that special look, and if he can repeat his 2023 in 2024 he may establish himself as one of the top catching prospects in the minors.
2024 Outlook: The Phillies will bring Tait stateside in 2024 and he should play in Extended Spring Training and then the Florida Coast League, where he will likely be the youngest in the league.
Season Reports/Highlights
Phillies 2024 Midseason Prospect Ranking and Trade Deadline Preview
Summary: Tait has yet to turn 18, and departed the FCL with a .321/.377/.500 batting line in 51 games. He gets to his power easily, routinely posting high end exit velocities. He does make some bad contact at times, and he doesn’t always have the best approach at the plate. He can be an aggressive swinger and he has some chase, but he makes plenty of contact. Tait will need to become more discerning in order to tap into his power more and take advantage of some of the respect he will get at the plate. He is still growing defensively, but he looks like he should stick behind the plate, even if he won’t be a great defender.
Tait struggled to reach safely to open the season and struggled overall to hit for power in the first month of the season. In June he hit .314/.383/.629 and as of Monday (7/8) morning he was hitting .301/.368/.493 on the season with a 7.6% BB% and 15.2% K%. He has been the best 17 year old hitter stateside and of the best 18 and under players. He hits the ball hard and while he can get a bit swing happy, he has kept his strikeouts under control. He has struggled in his small sample vs LHPs, but that he mostly been to have impact on the ball as he has 6 walks and 4 strikeouts vs southpaws. While he didn’t move up the rankings numerically at midseason, he is now firmly into the top prospect group that the Phillies have.
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 13 6/18-6/24)
8-22 2 2B 2 HR 8 RBI 2 K 2 HBP 1 SB
Not as good a week as last for Eduardo Tait who only hit .364/.417/.727 on the week. No walks, but 2 hit by pitches and only 2 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. He is now hitting .321/.403/.696 in June. He is only hitting .120/.290/.120 off of lefties and it is concerning that the quality of contact has been poor, but 6 walks to 3 strikeouts tempers that, especially given the sample size is 31 plate appearances. There is about a month left in the FCL season, and given how Tait has played it would make sense for them to push him to Clearwater to end the season. For now there he is one of 5 players 17 or younger who have at least 120 plate appearances this year (a functional proxy for playing stateside) and he trails only Rangers prospect Pablo Guerrero in OPS (Guerrero plays in Arizona and has a strikeout rate 12% above Tait’s). He isn’t as projectable as your typical teenager, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have plenty of upside when it comes to polish, especially defensively.
After a good spring training, it hasn’t exactly been a good start to the FCL season for the 17 year old catcher. Much of that was a 1-14 start over his first 5 games as he hit .289/.345/.365 over the rest of the month. He is hitting the ball hard, he just hasn’t gotten a real hold of one yet and he has made some more weak contact than would be ideal. On the season he he a 7.9% BB% and 16.9% K%, though when you want his at bats it feels like he swings and misses a bit much. He is still very much a work in progress behind the plate, and in the early going opposing base runners have run fairly wild on him. It hasn’t been the breakout season that looked like it might be happening, but he also won’t turn 18 for just under 3 months, and the shine isn’t really off either.
Phillies 2024 Midseason Prospect Ranking and Trade Deadline Preview
Summary: Tait has yet to turn 18, and departed the FCL with a .321/.377/.500 batting line in 51 games. He gets to his power easily, routinely posting high end exit velocities. He does make some bad contact at times, and he doesn’t always have the best approach at the plate. He can be an aggressive swinger and he has some chase, but he makes plenty of contact. Tait will need to become more discerning in order to tap into his power more and take advantage of some of the respect he will get at the plate. He is still growing defensively, but he looks like he should stick behind the plate, even if he won’t be a great defender.
Tait struggled to reach safely to open the season and struggled overall to hit for power in the first month of the season. In June he hit .314/.383/.629 and as of Monday (7/8) morning he was hitting .301/.368/.493 on the season with a 7.6% BB% and 15.2% K%. He has been the best 17 year old hitter stateside and of the best 18 and under players. He hits the ball hard and while he can get a bit swing happy, he has kept his strikeouts under control. He has struggled in his small sample vs LHPs, but that he mostly been to have impact on the ball as he has 6 walks and 4 strikeouts vs southpaws. While he didn’t move up the rankings numerically at midseason, he is now firmly into the top prospect group that the Phillies have.
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 13 6/18-6/24)
8-22 2 2B 2 HR 8 RBI 2 K 2 HBP 1 SB
Not as good a week as last for Eduardo Tait who only hit .364/.417/.727 on the week. No walks, but 2 hit by pitches and only 2 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. He is now hitting .321/.403/.696 in June. He is only hitting .120/.290/.120 off of lefties and it is concerning that the quality of contact has been poor, but 6 walks to 3 strikeouts tempers that, especially given the sample size is 31 plate appearances. There is about a month left in the FCL season, and given how Tait has played it would make sense for them to push him to Clearwater to end the season. For now there he is one of 5 players 17 or younger who have at least 120 plate appearances this year (a functional proxy for playing stateside) and he trails only Rangers prospect Pablo Guerrero in OPS (Guerrero plays in Arizona and has a strikeout rate 12% above Tait’s). He isn’t as projectable as your typical teenager, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have plenty of upside when it comes to polish, especially defensively.
After a good spring training, it hasn’t exactly been a good start to the FCL season for the 17 year old catcher. Much of that was a 1-14 start over his first 5 games as he hit .289/.345/.365 over the rest of the month. He is hitting the ball hard, he just hasn’t gotten a real hold of one yet and he has made some more weak contact than would be ideal. On the season he he a 7.9% BB% and 16.9% K%, though when you want his at bats it feels like he swings and misses a bit much. He is still very much a work in progress behind the plate, and in the early going opposing base runners have run fairly wild on him. It hasn’t been the breakout season that looked like it might be happening, but he also won’t turn 18 for just under 3 months, and the shine isn’t really off either.