The VSL season ended a couple of weeks ago. This post will serve as a quick summary of the season and a top 10 prospect lists for players on the team this year. As always, we want to reiterate that this prospect list is not based on scouting reports. It is mainly based on statistics from this past season, statements seen in the press, and playing patterns from the Phillies. Rule number one in the minor leagues is to develop prospects. The goal is usually not to win games, though winning is not necessarily a bad thing. The top prospects must play, however. If the Phillies still win while playing their better, younger prospects – then that is a good thing.
That being said, the Phillies VSL team struggled in 2009. They finished the season with a 27-42 record, 6th place in a 7-team league 20.5 games behind the league leading Pirates. The Phillies fielded an average age team in 2009. Its hitters were slightly younger than the league average (age 18.1 versus 18.4 for the league) and its pitchers were slightly older (19.3 versus 18.5). These age statistics are the biggest sign that the best prospects on the team this year were hitters as opposed to pitchers. While one pitcher received an in-season promotion to the GCL (Ely Izturriaga), none of the other pitchers had seasons that stood out. The best pitching prospect on the team would probably be new signee Lino Martinez, though he will not make his debut until next season. It is possible that he will jump straight to GCL next year, though that might be an Instructional League/Spring Training decision.
On offense the team was hurt a little by injuries. Top prospect Bernardo Solarte missed a large portion of the season due to injury, though the team thinks enough of him to have brought him to Clearwater for his rehab. The team also received a mid-season boost from power-hitting OF Rudney Balentien, a 2-year veteran of the DSL team (he is from nearby Curacao). Balentien also appears to have been injured in the latter part of the year.
The VSL prospect list for 2009 is as follows:
1. Bernardo Solarte (CF, age 17) – Signed a year ago for $130K, Solarte had the highest expectations of anyone on the team. He ended up hitting .260 with a .716 OPS in only 50 at bats. He is in the mold of Leandro Castro as a CF with plus speed and some power potential. While he did not play much in 2009, expect him at GCL in 2010.
2. Marco Davalillo (C, age 18) – One of the surprises on the team this year was the performance of Davalillo behind the plate. While a slightly older prospect at 18, Davalillo plays a premium position in catcher and threw out a respectable 38% of players that attempted to steal. He was the team’s best hitter start to finish. He hit .336 with enough walks and power to have an .896 OPS. He ended up with 6 HR and 26 RBI, finding extra playing time at 1B and 3B to keep his bat in the lineup.
3. Ely Izturriaga (LHP, age 19) – Izturriaga makes the list based on his solid performance early in the year that earned him a promotion to GCL. He was the top starter for the VSL team early in the year, going 2-2 with a 2.08 ERA and solid peripherals (39 IP, 32 H, 10 BB, 47 K). He has struggled a bit at GCL though only in limited innings. Izturriaga is also left-handed. While he might not end up as much more than a LOOGY candidate, he may still be the best pitching prospect from this year’s VSL team.
4. Nerio Rios (SS, age 17) – Rios makes the list mainly because of his $100K bonus. Reputed to be a solid defensive shortstop with more offensive potential than Freddy Glavis, Rios disappointed with the bat in 2009. He hit only .207 with little power or speed. He had enough walks to post a .304 OBP, but his lack of power gave him only a .560 OPS. He did appear to play a solid SS, so hopefully the offense will come later.
5. Yosber Monzon (RHP, age 19) – Monzon was the second-best starter on the team, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.68 ERA. His performance was a little less than what one would expect from a 19-year-old prospect, however. He was relatively hard to hit (49 H in 66 IP), though his K/BB ratio (43/30) was not great.
6. Rudney Balentien (CF/RF, age 19) – Balentien played 2 years in the DSL with mediocre results. When transferred to the VSL this season he dominated the league, hitting .352 with 8 HR in only 91 AB. He had an OPS of 1.103 and stole 5 SB in limited time. What does all this mean? Hard to tell. He really should have been in GCL this season. Then he got hurt with less than 100 at bats. But an 1100 OPS is still an 1100 OPS. That makes him someone to watch.
7. Leonel Bastides (RHP, age 20) – Bastides makes the list at the relatively old age of 20 because he was in the starting rotation. The better prospects tend to get innings. Bastides is a projectible RHP (6’3″, 184) with mediocre results (4.71 ERA, 63 IP, 63 H, 18 BB, 45 K). He will need to improve his performance this winter to be considered a prospect.
8. Enderson Villegas (C, age 17) – One of the younger catchers on the team, Villegas held his own offensively (.245 average, .684 OPS) and defensively (33% CS). He only hit 1 HR in 2009, though at his age he has plenty of time to grow into his power. He will most likely repeat the VSL in 2009 with Davalillo being the catcher that gets promoted.
9. Jesus Pirela (RHP, age 20) – Another older starter on the team, Pirela also had mediocre results. He went 3-6 with a 4.59 ERA. In 68.2 IP he gave up 70 hits, though had a decent K/BB ratio of 60/28.
10. Luis Unda (LF/1B, age 19) – Unda was one of the better offensive players on the team, splitting time between LF and 1B. For the year Unda hit .301 with a .807 OPS. He ended up with 5 HR and led the team with 34 RBI. Unda improved greatly from 2008 (.579 OPS), though at age 19 and without plus defensive skills may not be much of a prospect.
Others to watch in the future include relievers Kirlian Campo (LHP, age 19, 1.80 ERA) and Luis Leon (RHP, age 19, 3.31 ERA, 8 saves). On offense 6’5″ OF Luis Martinez (age 19) hit .265 with 2 HR and 3B Eduards Tolo (age 18) hit .284. In addition, Carlos Perdomo was a slick-fielding middle infielder who hit .309, though at age 19 is probably not considered a top prospect.
Next up – 2009 DSL recap
Phuture Phillies 
andyb —
I always enjoy and appreciate your excellent reporting on our academy prospects. Doesn’t seem to be a whole lot in VSL to get strongly excited about. That a mediocre DSL guy from prior seasons comes over and dominates the VSL, is too few data points to confirm my suspicions about the relative strengths of the two leagues, but that’s my prejudice.
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The one thing that might be different with Balentien (hopefully) is that in the DSL he was an OF with almost no power. If he has now picked up some legitimate power to go with already decent speed – then maybe he is at least worth watching. But in general, if a hitter is 19 and still in these academy leagues he is rarely a prospect. Pitchers and catchers might need an extra year, but hitters usually develop earlier.
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On a somewhat related note, I’ve really been surprised by how dead the international market was this year for the Phillies but really for everybody. Is OF Luis Jolly still unsigned? As far as we know Domingo Santana and Lino Martinez are the only 2009 acquisitions of significance for the Phillies (and technically only Lino Martinez was after July 2).
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Trust me, Domingo Santana may be the only guy you need. As far as I’m concerned, he’s probably a top 5 prospect or pretty darned close to that.
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Thanks andyb
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Well the Venezuelan factor in the near future as in who goes to the States next Spring Training, might be seen in relation to the Dominicans. I got the idea that the ideal situation for Spring Rosters could be that a lineup be constructed from the Latin American contingent, along with a few extra reserves and maybe a couple of GCL holdovers.
Then after the draft a lineup of drafted High School prospects to compete with them.
Pitching wise (GCL teams usually carry around 15 pitchers (mandatory) so the Latin American contingent might be around 8. I would think the 5 starters from DSL would certainly qualify to go to the States, plus I would think the LHP reliever Adrian Sierra. Then, if this bears out the VSL contribution would be but a few. Yosber Monzon would be the top choice, as statisticallly the most impressive, and he seems to get alot of groundballs. Then I would bring Luis Leon and Kirlian Kampo as relief candidates. That would make 9 so that should be more than enough.
Catchers they can bring more than other positons. I would bring Marco Davalillo as the top guy who could slide to 3rd or 1st, also VSL Enderson Villegas, and DSL Felix Marine.
Infield- I would say Luis Unda can be the 1st base candidate, as I would write in Geancarlo Mendez DSL at 2B, with best Infield candidate Eladio Berroa at SS, and they can bring bonus guy Carlos Valenzuela at 3B, and if he does not step up in GCL, he can be released next Spring. Since Mendez and Valenzuela can be defensively iffy, Carlos Perdomo VSL can come as another Infielder.
Outfield= DSL’s Switch Hitting IF=OF’s Jorge Castillo and Nevri Jimenez I would bring , and also Luis Beltre. They can bring Bernardo Solarte also.
Those are the Latin Americans I would bring. Many of the VSL candidates could go for another year in VSL. Lino Martinez could go to GCL, yes , but I don’t count him as he wasn’t in VSL yet. Rudney Balentien has mainly moved up due to a power surge, but for all I know he might actually be his listed 6′ 160, don’t see alot of MLB power hitters at that dimension, and I think the others selected above have more potential long term utility.
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I don’t think we’ll see more than 4 or 4 additional VSL players at GCL next year including Lino Martinez. Here is who might go from the VSL:
Solarte – best prospect – he’ll go if heathy
Davalillo – already 18 and a catcher
Monzon – Best starter left
Rios – 50/50 depending on his offensive development
Martinez – Lino probably starts at GCL like other high dollar signees
Beyond that I might promote Balentien and perhaps a reliever like Campo, though those 2 players could just as easily be released as they are now older prospects with 3 years in the system. We should also remember there are going to be some HS holdovers from this year at GCL among the later signees. We are not going to bring over too many mediocre prospects when they would be taking playing time from better prospects like Altherr or Sasaki.
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Good job. A reasoned and reasonable evaluation.
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If there are any holdovers from the HS contingent at GCL, they could be assigned to Williamsport for Extended Spring Training. I don’t project any of them not to make it, as I see Singleton going to Lakewood as a DH/1B alternate with Darin Ruf. I now see ’em keeping 4 Outfielders to start out at Williamsport among the guys they keep (Altherr, Dugan, Hudson, Domingo Santana) and maybe draft a couple of College guys to augment that), I see Cesar Hernandez and Jonathon Villar going to Lakewood to woek in with Barnes and Buschini. Then they could slide Paulino, Castillo, and Duran to Williamsport , as they would really have nothing at that position at Williamsport till they bring in some College competition in the draft. If, however, some don’t stick at Williamsport they could return to GCL to augment the starting line-up/skeleton crew I advocated. Say, if Bollinger returns he can be penciled in as a starter and backed up by Unda (as I advocated) and they could soft pedal that position in the draft, which would give Bollinger a better chance of playing time in the next GCL. Or if Altherr returns to GCL, he can be placed with the 3 DOminicans and Solarte I advocated, and they can bring in some late round College plugger to round out the OF, or just retain HIssey, and Altherr would have a good chance to play regularly as well. See, the possible holdovers could be used in tandem with the starting line-up skeleton crew I advocated and where GCL players return, they can soft pedal those positions in the draft, or they can sign another 10 Center Fielders.
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