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Showing posts from February, 2018

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #9 OF Roman Quinn

Roman Quinn,, image- Jay Floyd Outfielder Roman Quinn used his short stint in the big leagues late in the 2016 season as a chance to show that he belonged at the top level of the sport.  While he looked primed to get more opportunities at major league playing time with the Phils at some point last year, another ailment in a long list of injuries resulted in the youngster missing most of last season.  He hopes to ride a solid spring training campaign this year with the big club back to Philadelphia. Selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 MLB amateur draft, Quinn was converted to shortstop upon making his pro debut.  It was an experiment that did not prove successful, however, as he has returned to the outfield. Quinn would make his pro debut as a 19-year-old with short-season Class A Williamsport in 2012, posting a .281 average with nine doubles, a league-leading 11 triples, one home run and 23 RBI while swiping 30 bases in 36 opportunities. Comfort was a big factor

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #10 OF Dylan Cozens

Dylan Cozens, image- Jay Floyd Powerful outfield prospect Dylan Cozens hopes to shake the reputation of a free swinger and become a more complete hitter in order to fulfill his dream of reaching the major leagues. At six feet six inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, Cozens has an imposing frame that was well-suited for the grid iron, as he was a two-sport star in his high school days.  After he was chosen in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft, Cozens debuted in the minors with the rookie level Gulf Coast Phillies. In 50 games there, he notched 15 doubles, two triples, five homers and 24 RBI. Cozens also participated in the Florida Instructional League in 2012. Following a productive spring in 2013, Cozens was retained in extended spring training and made his official season debut with the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters when they began playing in June. Cozens was among the league leaders in many categories that year, placing second i

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #11 RHP Tom Eshelman

Tom Eshelman, image- Jay Floyd Surprising success in the minors has earned righty hurler Tom Eshelman recognition among the Phillies' top pitching prospects. Acquired as part of the trade that sent reliever Kenny Giles to Houston, Eshelman has dominated the competition since joining the Phils organization. After becoming Houston's 2nd round draft choice (46th overall) in 2015 and signing for a reported $1.1 million, the Carlsbad, CA native started four total games at two levels of the Astros' system. As a member of the rookie level Gulf Coast League Astros, Eshelman allowed two earned runs while striking out three and walking two in four innings of work. He was then promoted to Class A Quad Cities where he allowed three earned runs while striking out five and walking three in 6 1/3 innings. After the trade, he opened 2016 with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers.  Eshelman would become a Florida State League All-Star in his initial campaign for the Phil

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #12 RHP Adonis Medina

Adonis Medina, image- Jay Floyd Widely ranked among the Phillies' top prospects by many outlets, right-handed pitcher Adonis Medina has already made a name for himself at quite a young age as coaches really like his potential while Phils' brass adores his ability. Medina is equipped with a mid-90's fastball along with a curveball and a change up that are considered to have plus potential has used that arsenal to impress at the lower levels of the minor leagues as to date. Signed in 2014 at age 17, Medina made his pro debut that year as part of the Phillies' Dominican Summer League team. In 11 games (two starts) he would post a 2-3 record with a save, a 1.27 ERA and a 7.5 K/9 mark along with a .220 batting average againts. In 2015, the six-foot-one 185-pounder competed with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phils, sporting a 3-2 record with a 2.98 ERA, a .253 BAA and a 6.9 K/9 mark in 10 games (eight starts). The following season, at the age of 19, he pitch

2018 Philliies Prospects Countdown: #13 LHP Ranger Suarez

Ranger Suarez, image- Jay Floyd The Phillies have a growing collection of highly regarded left-handed pitching prospects with Venezuela native Ranger Suarez leading the way among them. Suarez, who stands six-foot-one and weighs around 180 pounds, was signed by the Phillies at the age of 16. The exciting youngster would make his professional debut as a closer with the Venezuelan Summer League team in 2012. He tossed five scoreless innings and earned two saves in three outings there. Over the next two seasons in the VSL, Suarez posted very solid numbers (5-4 record, 1.66 ERA) in 22 appearances. In 2014 he was converted to a starter. Suarez pitched stateside in 2015, pitching in extended spring training that year and then sporting a 3-0 record with a tremendous 0.65 ERA in six appearances for the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. In 2016 with short-season Class A Williamsport, Suarez tallied a 6-4 record with a 2.81 ERA, a 6.5 K/9 mark and a .223 batting average

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #14 LHP JoJo Romero

JoJo Romero, image- MiLB.com With a growing crop of very talented pitching prospects, left-hander JoJo Romero is among the standouts for the Phillies. The six-foot tall 190-pounder was the Phils’ 4th round draft selection in 2016. That year he helped Yavapai College, the same school that the Phillies drafted Kenny Giles from in 2011, clinch the JuCo World Series, leading the way with an 11-5 record, a 3.64 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 mark. He also tossed a complete game gem to earn the win in the title game. After signing with the Phillies, Romero joined the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. There he notched a 2-2 record with a 2.56 ERA while striking out 31 and walking 11 in 45 2/3 innings. In 2017, he got off to a remarkable start with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 13 starts, Romero tallied a 5-1 record with a 2.11 ERA and a 9.3 K/9 mark. The California native was promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater in late June. In 10 starts for the Threshers, Romero p

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #15 LHP Elniery Garcia

Elniery Garcia, image- Jay Floyd Despite missing time last season due a performance enhancing drug suspension, left-hander Elniery Garcia is one of the Phillies' most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 17-year-old in 2011, Garcia would start his professional career in the Dominican Summer League the following year.  There, he would post a 2-1 record with a 4.18 ERA and a .253 batting average against in eight appearances. The following year, he pitched in the rookie level Gulf Coast League posting a 1-3 record with a 5.15 ERA and a .291 BAA in nine starts. In 2014, the progressing Garcia would split his time in the GCL and with the short-season Class A Williamsport team. In 11 combined games (four starts), he tallied a 2-2 record with a 2.64 ERA and a .254 BAA while striking out 28 and walking six in 30 2/3 innings. He would debut in full season ball the following year with Class A Lakewood. In 21 starts for the BlueClaws, Garcia notched an 8-9 record with a 3.2

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #16 LHP Cole Irvin

Cole Irvin, image- Jay Floyd A swift ascent in the organization has helped left-handed starting pitcher Cole Irvin show that he is one of the Phillies’ top pitching prospects. A 5th round pick in the 2016 draft, Irvin had undergone Tommy John surgery, missing the 2014 college season, and recovered enough to earn first team all conference honors as a red shirt junior, posting a 6-4 record with a 3.17 ERA and a 7.9 K/9 mark in 17 contests for Oregon.  Irvin was the first of the Phils’ 2016 draft selections to reach the Double-A level and has enjoyed notable success at each level. Irvin made his professional debut shortly after signing with the Phillies as a member of the Class A short-season Williamsport roster. In 10 outings there (seven starts) he sported a 5-1 record with a 1.97 ERA while striking out 37 and walking just eight in 45 2/3 innings of work. Last year, Irvin opened the season with Class A Advanced Clearwater. In 12 games (11 starts) he posted a 4-6 record wit

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #17 OF Cornelius Randolph

Randolph w/ Lakewood in 2016, image- Jay Floyd Upon being selected with the 10th overall selection in the 2015 MLB amateur draft, outfielder C. Randolph quickly placed among the Phillies' top ranked prospects. After being drafted out of Griffin High School in Georgia as a shortstop, the five-foot-11 205-pounder was converted on defense to the outfield, where he has looked comfortable and capable During his senior season in high school, Randolph drew considerable attention from professional organizations, posting great offensive numbers with a .533 batting average, seven home runs, 33 RBI and a 1.631 OPS in 26 games, leading his team into the state tournament. As an 18-year-old, Randolph had a tremendous professional debut in 2015, posting a .302/.425/.442 slash line in 53 games for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. In 2016 as a member of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Randolph would tally a .274 average with two homers and 27 RBI in 63 games. 

2018 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #18 Second Baseman Daniel Brito

Daniel Brito, image- Jay Floyd Venezuelan infielder Daniel Brito has proved to be a rising performer in the Phillies' system in recent years.  Signed by the Phillies in 2014 at the age of 16 for a reported $650,000, Brito would debut the following year with the Dominican Summer League team.  In 60 games there, the six-foot-one 155-pounder would tally a .269 average with 10 doubles, three triples and 19 RBI while swiping eight bases.   He debuted stateside in 2016 2018 as part of the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies.  There he batted .284 with 10 doubles, five triples, two home runs and 25 RBI while stealing seven bases in 47 games.   In 2017, Brito was able to put his skills on display in the full season Class A South Atlantic League as a member of the Lakewood BlueClaws.  As a 19-year-old, Brito sported a .239 average with 15 doubles, a triple, six homers, 32 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 112 contests.  The full season seemed to wear on the youn

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #19 RHP Seranthony Dominguez

Seranthony Dominguez, image- Gigantes Dominican native Seranthony Dominguez is a talented hurler that deserves recognition among the Phillies top pitching prospects. After signing with the Phillies at age 17 in 2012, the six-foot-one 185-pound righty would make his pro debut that   year with the Dominican Summer League Phillies.  He spent two seasons there, tallying an 8-10 record with two shutouts and a 3.20 ERA in 29 outings (24 starts). He would debut stateside in 2014 with the Rookie level short-season Gulf Coast League Phillies, spending two seasons there.  In 16 appearances, Dominguez posted a 3-3 record with a 2.94 ERA. In 2016, Dominguez opened the season in extended spring training and made three starts for short-season Class A Williamsport.  He would sport a 1-1 record with a 2.12 ERA and a .136 batting average against with the Crosscutters before a promotion to Class A Lakewood. With the BlueClaws, Dominguez would notch a 5-2 record with a 2.43 ERA, a .202 BAA an

Former top draft pick Appel stepping away from baseball

Mark Appel, image- Jay Floyd Following a difficult stretch in the minor leagues, former first overall draft choice Mark Appel has announced his plan to walk away from the sport that made him a multi-millionaire without ever reaching the big leagues. In an exclusive piece from BleacherReport , Appel admits that he may be the biggest bust in MLB Draft history.  The 26-year-old righty also shared that he is planning to take an indefinite break from baseball. Appel, the top draft pick in 2013 by Houston, signing for a reported $6.35 million, joined the Phillies organization following the 2015 season when he was included as part of the return in a trade for reliever Kenny Giles. Sporting a disappointing 5.06 ERA through 81 games over five professional seasons, Appel isn't convinced his future is in baseball, so he'll take time to do other things and he doesn't seem sad about the decision. "Maybe we should all get together and have a party," Appel says with