Name: Aroon Escobar
Position: 3B
Born: January 1, 2005
Country: Venezuela
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 5’11” 180lbs
How Acquired: International Free Agent (2022 Class)
Signed: January 15, 2022
Bonus: $450,000
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
MiLB Free Agency: 2028
Stats
Prospect Rankings
Role: Above Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar played 24 games this year. They were 24 very good games, but they had enough underlying poor indicators to go with the good that you can’t crown Escobar yet.
Summary: Escobar has long shown an advanced approach at every stop, and his 21 walks to 10 strikeouts this season were a product of good decision making rather than passivity. He has plus raw power and good contact rates to go with the low chase rates, but has struggled to consistently square up the baseball with stretches of pop ups and ground balls at each level. If he can find more of that consistency with contact quality, his approach and power are going to make it play up in a way that could make him an impact offensive player. He has been a good base stealer the last two seasons, but is more of an average runner than a burner. This shows on defense where he can play second base, but at times he seems to lack some of the range to be a great defender there. He has plenty of arm for third base, and his actions and range play well enough there he could be an above average or plus defender at the hot corner. Escobar missed time the last two seasons, including being day to day for over 2 months in 2024 with shin splints in both legs. If he can stay healthy he has a chance to breakout early in the season and quickly be one of the best prospects in the organization.
2025 Outlook: Escobar should finally reach full season ball next year, and if he consistently does what he has flashed, then he could move up to Jersey Shore by the middle of the season.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar is far enough away that it is hard to limit his ceiling, but he is also about as far away as a player can be. He has shown a good ability to make contact, albeit in a year repeating in the DSL.
Summary: Escobar was one of the Phillies larger 2022 signings and got that season off to a big start with a big home run. It was a much quieter season for Escobar in 2023 as injuries caused some disruption and he struggled to make quality contact. He is a solidly built infielder that has already moved over to a second base/third base timeshare and should be able to play both positions. At the plate, Escobar has plus bat speed and should have plus raw power as he grows older. Escobar does show a good approach and feel for contact with 26 walks to 17 strikeouts in 162 PAs on the season. He ended the season on a high note, hitting .273/.402/.364 in 19 games (84 PAs) after coming back from injury, as well as a solid postseason. He will need to start turning the good contact and approach numbers into quality of contact, and that will be the biggest thing to watch in 2024.
2024 Outlook: It looks like Escobar will get his stateside chance in 2024, where he will be in competition with the other young infielders for playing time in Extended Spring and FCL games.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar has intriguing enough tools to dream on, but he isn’t a big standout. His potential outcome spread is immense with much of the outcomes being that he falls well short of projection, but that is also the case with the majority of 18 year olds.
Summary: Escobar was one of the 6 figure signings by the Phillies in January 2022 that was drawing some amount of buzz on signing day. He drove the ball early in the season, including a massive home run that did the rounds on social media. His power tailed off in July and August, but it was good to see that his walk and strikeout numbers stayed relatively stable. Escobar is already pretty solidly built for an 18 year old, and while he played all over the infield in 2022, his final position is likely his listed position of third base. He generates great bat speed which leads to good raw power. Escobar is more of an interesting collection of tools than a fully formed prospect at this point, but it is a good start.
2023 Outlook: The Phillies brought Escobar stateside for their spring high performance camp, which portends that he is slated for Extended Spring Training and then the Florida Coast League. Keeping his head above water will probably be the mark of a good season.
Role: Above Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar played 24 games this year. They were 24 very good games, but they had enough underlying poor indicators to go with the good that you can’t crown Escobar yet.
Summary: Escobar has long shown an advanced approach at every stop, and his 21 walks to 10 strikeouts this season were a product of good decision making rather than passivity. He has plus raw power and good contact rates to go with the low chase rates, but has struggled to consistently square up the baseball with stretches of pop ups and ground balls at each level. If he can find more of that consistency with contact quality, his approach and power are going to make it play up in a way that could make him an impact offensive player. He has been a good base stealer the last two seasons, but is more of an average runner than a burner. This shows on defense where he can play second base, but at times he seems to lack some of the range to be a great defender there. He has plenty of arm for third base, and his actions and range play well enough there he could be an above average or plus defender at the hot corner. Escobar missed time the last two seasons, including being day to day for over 2 months in 2024 with shin splints in both legs. If he can stay healthy he has a chance to breakout early in the season and quickly be one of the best prospects in the organization.
2025 Outlook: Escobar should finally reach full season ball next year, and if he consistently does what he has flashed, then he could move up to Jersey Shore by the middle of the season.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar is far enough away that it is hard to limit his ceiling, but he is also about as far away as a player can be. He has shown a good ability to make contact, albeit in a year repeating in the DSL.
Summary: Escobar was one of the Phillies larger 2022 signings and got that season off to a big start with a big home run. It was a much quieter season for Escobar in 2023 as injuries caused some disruption and he struggled to make quality contact. He is a solidly built infielder that has already moved over to a second base/third base timeshare and should be able to play both positions. At the plate, Escobar has plus bat speed and should have plus raw power as he grows older. Escobar does show a good approach and feel for contact with 26 walks to 17 strikeouts in 162 PAs on the season. He ended the season on a high note, hitting .273/.402/.364 in 19 games (84 PAs) after coming back from injury, as well as a solid postseason. He will need to start turning the good contact and approach numbers into quality of contact, and that will be the biggest thing to watch in 2024.
2024 Outlook: It looks like Escobar will get his stateside chance in 2024, where he will be in competition with the other young infielders for playing time in Extended Spring and FCL games.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Escobar has intriguing enough tools to dream on, but he isn’t a big standout. His potential outcome spread is immense with much of the outcomes being that he falls well short of projection, but that is also the case with the majority of 18 year olds.
Summary: Escobar was one of the 6 figure signings by the Phillies in January 2022 that was drawing some amount of buzz on signing day. He drove the ball early in the season, including a massive home run that did the rounds on social media. His power tailed off in July and August, but it was good to see that his walk and strikeout numbers stayed relatively stable. Escobar is already pretty solidly built for an 18 year old, and while he played all over the infield in 2022, his final position is likely his listed position of third base. He generates great bat speed which leads to good raw power. Escobar is more of an interesting collection of tools than a fully formed prospect at this point, but it is a good start.
2023 Outlook: The Phillies brought Escobar stateside for their spring high performance camp, which portends that he is slated for Extended Spring Training and then the Florida Coast League. Keeping his head above water will probably be the mark of a good season.
Season Reports/Highlights
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 4 4/15-4/20)
11-23 2 2B 2 HR 4 RBI 1 BB 5 K .478/.500/.826
What Aroon Escobar has done so far this year isn’t completely shocking. He was very very good in a small sample size last year and he has long had the physical tools to be a good player. Escobar has a very quick bat which allows him to punish fastballs, and he is adept at getting the ball in the air to the pull side. He has been more aggressive at the plate this year which has translated into a flipped walk and strikeout rate (20.2% BB% to 7.0% BB% and 9.6% K% to 22.8% K%). He has hit a ton of line drives, but you would like to see him also get the ball in the air more, but his currently 28.9% line drive rate is likely unsustainable and will hopefully decay into fly balls and not more ground balls. It is unsurprising for a kid of his age and experience, that sliders can be a trouble for him, as can changeups when he is swinging fastball. Defensively, Escobar has exclusively played second base, and it is a position that should fit his body and offensive profile well. If he keeps this up, the Phillies will need to challenge him at a higher level, but given the pedigree and underlying numbers (he has an average EV over 90 and 90th percentile over 105 mph) he is firmly one of the Phillies better prospects already.
2025 Week 4
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 4 4/15-4/20)
11-23 2 2B 2 HR 4 RBI 1 BB 5 K .478/.500/.826
What Aroon Escobar has done so far this year isn’t completely shocking. He was very very good in a small sample size last year and he has long had the physical tools to be a good player. Escobar has a very quick bat which allows him to punish fastballs, and he is adept at getting the ball in the air to the pull side. He has been more aggressive at the plate this year which has translated into a flipped walk and strikeout rate (20.2% BB% to 7.0% BB% and 9.6% K% to 22.8% K%). He has hit a ton of line drives, but you would like to see him also get the ball in the air more, but his currently 28.9% line drive rate is likely unsustainable and will hopefully decay into fly balls and not more ground balls. It is unsurprising for a kid of his age and experience, that sliders can be a trouble for him, as can changeups when he is swinging fastball. Defensively, Escobar has exclusively played second base, and it is a position that should fit his body and offensive profile well. If he keeps this up, the Phillies will need to challenge him at a higher level, but given the pedigree and underlying numbers (he has an average EV over 90 and 90th percentile over 105 mph) he is firmly one of the Phillies better prospects already.