Spring Training is way too long and has the constant terror of a player getting injured. It does however mean the return of baseball and recently with a resurgent Phillies farm system, a first look at some top prospects. Some of the prospects in camp are here only because they are on the 40 man roster, some are here as non roster invitees to either compete for jobs or get to know coaches before an inevitable mid season call up. For the 2018 camp, here is who is there and what to watch for.
Not Here For Long:
Franklyn Kilome, RHP – Nothing against Kilome, who has been generating a lot of buzz in camp so far, but he is not anywhere close to a major league job and is instead heading to Reading. Kilome needs work on his changeup and his delivery. The big league coaches should help, but given the number of pitchers in camp he just isn’t going to get the kind of attention and throwing time he will get on the minor league side. Expect to see Kilome in 1-2 inning stretches for the first week or two. Given that it is still early in the year, I would expect to see more 95 than 97 out of him, but if he is on, look for a hammer curveball that should embarrass at least one batter.
Ranger Suarez, LHP – Like Kilome, Suarez is not close to a major league job right now. The lefty might be staying in Florida to open the year with Clearwater while the AA and AAA rotations sort themselves out. Suarez was sitting 92-95 late in the year and will show a good slider and changeup. He is unlikely to wow in limited Grapefruit league action, but his pitchability should stand up well to advanced hitters.
Edgar Cabral, C – Cabral is one of the better defensive catchers in the system, but his bat limits him to backup catcher upside. He should be with Reading this year.
Here Until Minor League Games Start:
Drew Anderson, RHP – Anderson had a solid first year back from Tommy John surgery and should be in a competition for a AAA rotation spot to open the year and possibly a major league job later in the season. Anderson isn’t going to overpower anyone, but his fastball will sit 91-95 and his curveball is a good pitch. It will be interesting this spring to see what his changeup looks like and if he is still playing with a slider.
Seranthony Dominguez, RHP – The Phillies are moving the hard throwing Dominguez to the bullpen full time in 2018. He likely will head to AA to open the year, but could hang around a bit longer than his starting pitching equivalents given innings availability. Given he was sitting 95-98 T99 as a starting pitcher, it is not unreasonable that Dominguez could be touching 100 out of the bullpen. He is probably the hardest throwing guy in camp this year.
Jose Taveras, RHP – I think there is a fair argument that Taveras should be in the #5 starter competition, but he is probably the last guy in it, and with little AA and AAA time a return to the minors seems locked in. That means Taveras will be out of camp so he can get stretched out as a starter and not just pitching relief innings behind Lively, Eflin, Thompson, and others. Taveras’ success is based on deception and pitch mix. He is going to pound the strike zone with a variety of pitches keeping hitters off balance.
Eliezer Alvarez, 2B – Alvarez didn’t play any games for the Phillies after coming over from the Cardinals for Juan Nicasio. He is a second baseman by trade, but his future is probably as a utility infielder. Injuries limited him last year, so getting him on the field for plenty of at bats will be a priority.
Dylan Cozens, OF – Cozens’ raw power is undeniably exciting, but his approach numbers last year were not. The Phillies are trying to get him to just let his power play effortlessly rather than trying to kill baseballs. He might stick around a little later than some others in the group, but with at least 5 outfielders in front of him needing reps, a trip to the minor league side is in order. There is a good chance that while in big league camp he runs into a monster home run or two, especially while playing late innings against minor league pitchers.
Enyel De Los Santos, RHP – De Los Santos is yet another in the line of flawed RHPs at the top of the Phillies’ system. Only 22, De Los Santos is armed with a fastball that gets up to 98 and feel for a good changeup. His breaking ball needs work, as does is sequencing and feel for pitching. He will be competing on the minor league side for a AAA rotation spot. In major league camp, he might be a fun one for radar gun watchers, especially in shorter bursts.
J.D. Hammer, RHP – Hammer is one of the Phillies’ best pure relief prospects. He has a plus fastball and a decent slider, and while his control has been inconsistent he has shown the ability to be a high volume strike thrower in spurts. Hammer is not a contender to open the year with the Phillies, but if he gets off to a hot start in AA, he could make the majors before the end of the season.
Cole Irvin, LHP – Cole Irvin is a lot like Ranger Suarez, only older with more upper minors experience. Irvin will reach 95 with his fastball, but sit lower as he mixes in a two seamer at times. His changeup is probably his best secondary pitch, but he thrives by mixing all 4 of his pitches (he throws a slider and curveball), and throwing them all for strikes. He should be returning to the AA rotation.
Andrew Pullin, OF – Pullin destroyed Reading last year before falling flat in Lehigh Valley. He is left field only, so he will need to hit at a high rate. He doesn’t draw walks at a high rate, and has only average to slightly above power so he will need to make plenty of contact. If the Phillies want a 5th outfielder on the bench, and Quinn isn’t up to the task, Pullin could stay around for a bit.
Here Until the Bitter End:
Victor Arano, RHP – Until the Phillies acquired some reliever help this offseason, Arano was penciled into a spot in the Phillies bullpen. The 23 year old Mexican righty has yet to pitch in AAA, so unless he can just blow Mark Leiter away for the last bullpen spot, a trip to the minors is in order. Before his injury, Arano was 94-97 with his fastball, he was 1-2 mph below that last year, if he can come out touching 96-97 regularly after a healthy offseason, he might be a real weapon for the Phillies.
Yacksel Rios, RHP – Rios had a less than stellar debut for the Phillies, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t promise in his right arm. The Phillies had to accelerate him to the majors because of his pending minor league free agency, but he still has some polishing to do in the minors. If he is at full strength expects a fastball around 95 and a plus slider.
Roman Quinn, OF – The Phillies want to find a spot for Quinn. His lack of playing time due to injuries would indicate a trip to AAA might be ideal, but he is almost 25 and would fit perfectly on a bench. He might get some reps at SS to knock some rust off in case of emergency, but his mind role will be playing all 3 outfield positions well. If he hits this spring he could break camp with the Phillies.
Jesmuel Valentin, 2B – Last year, Valentin was too good to get a bench role, with the Phillies opting to send him to AAA for regular at bats. An injury ended his season in May, but he is back this spring to try and win a bench job. Valentin can play everywhere but pitcher and catcher, and that versatility is something the Phillies are looking for. He doesn’t really do anything great at the plate, but he has a good approach and feel for contact.
Tom Eshelman, RHP – If Eshelman was on the 40 man roster, he would be a real threat to win the #5 SP job, but for now he is dark horse in the race. Eshelman generally throws high 80s, but can touch 91-92. He is a command artist with a bunch of fringe average pitches, a good cutter, and an amazing feel for pitching. If his command is fully there this spring, he could humiliate some batters as they struggle to get their timing back. He will probably open the year in AAA, but should be in the majors at some point.
Brandon Leibrandt, LHP – A starter last year, Leibrandt’s path to the majors is almost certainly in the bullpen. He doesn’t have a ton of stuff, but his changeup and curveball are good enough pitches to keep batters from destroying his below average fastball. He needs to get lefties out to have a chance at a roster spot, also he needs Milner, Curtis, and Abad to struggle.
Scott Kingery, 2B – Barring a catastrophic injury to Franco, Crawford, or Hernandez, Kingery is not breaking camp with the Phillies. He is nearly major league ready, and just needs to polish things like his approach in AAA. He should be electric on the field, and the Phillies will likely keep him in camp until late in the Grapefruit League season to give him as many high level at bats as possible before sending him to minor league camp.
Photo by Baseball Betsy
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