Arizona Fall League rosters announced

8. Arizona Fall League

Check out the Mesa Solar Sox, the affiliate that will contain the Phillies prospects heading west.

Tyson Brummett, RHP
Justin De Fratus, RHP
Matt Rizzotti, 1B
Chris Kissock, RHP
BJ Rosenberg, RHP
Josh Zeid, RHP
Tim Kennelly, C/INF/OF

I think I’m actually most excited that Kennelly is going!

57 thoughts on “Arizona Fall League rosters announced”

  1. Interesting to see Zeid on the roster and it will be good to see Rizz and DeFratus go out there as well.

    Like

  3. Couple questions
    Is it safe to assume that the Phillies did not send any starting pitchers because of watching the total innings? I know Zeid starts but was only half a year.
    Second if Zeid throws well should it be assumed he starts in Reading next year?
    Third why send Brummett? He appears to have reached his peek.

    Like

  6. Overbeck next year. He is just getting his pro baseball feet under him, and to challenge him now in the AFL might set him back. [The AFL players feel more pressure than in that other kind of winter lg]—> I wouldn’t be surprised if he catches on to some other winter lg team…like Taylor who went to the Hawaiian Lg off-season and Brown did, too.?

    Brummet seems just a filler for completing their 6-player obligation.

    Like

  9. I seem to have lost my last post. It could be I killed it before it went. If this is a duplicate, I apologize.

    Kissock and Brummett surprise me. Kissock, I think, went last year. He’s 25 and can handle A+ hitters. In AA, he was just okay. He has some innings left in his arm but what do they want to see from him?

    Brummett is 26. He was a starter and was moved to the bullpen where I’d say the results were not good. He can pitch some more innings but I noticed he’s currently on the DL. What are they expecting to see from him? Learn a new pitch?

    DeFratus, Rizz and Rosy are no brainers. Kennelly can use the work and either find a position or become the best jack-of-all-trades. Interesting that Mark Parent is listed as the hitting coach. He can work on Tim’s catching skills to hone those a little better.

    Zeid is a pitcher that Parent likes. When they shifted him back to starter, Parent said, “He’s a starter.” He can use the work and instruction. I don’t think they’ll push him to AA next year but if he makes a good showing, anything’s possible.

    Like

  10. Zeid will be the name to watch…he could be a candidate for a double jump to Reading. Rosenberg needs the work as he was hurt most of the year after a great 2009.

    Like

  12. When I first saw this, I believed it be kind of a weird group. It isn’t. Brummett and Kissock are odd choices, but the rest of the guys slot in well. Not sure why Overbeck is left out, but I agree it is probably because they don’t want him to go backwards. I think that’s true as far as the hitting goes, but, from what I hear, he needs work in the field. I think I would have liked to have seen Ramirez and Naylor rather than Brummett and Kissock, but what the hell do I know.

    Like

  13. Agree Brummett and Kissock going have little value in terms of prospect development. I think Phils do not want to send anyone else mentioned here because of the possibility of them being overmatched and maybe losing confidence. So B and K are just guys who can likely handle that environment based on age and experience, and if they get shelled, who cares?

    I had thought Savery might go, but maybe next year as a hitter if that experiment matures. I gues it’s the FIL for him, perfecting his swing, re-acquainting him with 1B, trying him in LF.

    Like

  14. Some pitchers go to fill innings. That’s the impression I get. You wouldn’t want to overwork arms you actually valued, would you?

    Like

  15. well i think they sent who they sent more because these are people who didn’t get much playing time and they want to see them in extensive action and rizz just to see if he is for real but i have been only watching minor league baseball for one year only so i really don’t know much but b and k are names i have not heard to much this season and some of the others where injured at some point this season

    Like

  16. If you read the philly.com article announcing this , it says another position player will be added before the AFL season starts. Since roster says only 3 OF’s and 8 IF’s maybe they go there with an OF. They list 4 3B, Josh Vitters should play alot there, I don’t think Overbeck would play alot there. Tony Sanchez should catch the most. Since the Mesa Solar Sox would play a schedule as a team, they will need long relievers as well and teams will provide some along with players they expect to get some more playing time. Also, the AFL is not a winter league, that’s why they call it the Arizona FALL league. Savery- maybe he goes to the AFL as the OF reserve to learn some there and bat, The Fall Instructional League would be a poor substitute for that. The Winter Leagues are run by Latin American people to make a buck and it is either produce or go home. They may not be interested in signing someone who is newly back to hitting or trying to learn a position. Overbeck may not have the quality of experience or production they are seeking either. Overbeck might be a good candidate for the AFL, though, as it has often been a “AA moving up to AAA” type of experience. Maybe Harold Garcia as a 2B there, also.

    Like

  18. Rizzotti and DeFratus do not really need more work and both need to be protected. But the AFL is a good tryout for 40-man roster spots.
    Kissock is due for 40-man so maybe some team thinks he is worth a selection and Phillies get $50K. Brummett is just filler and can pitch multiple innings.
    Rosenberg is a no-brainer due to his lost season and he slots as a AA to AAA guy. His performance may move him give him a chance at the major league bullpen next season.
    Zied is interesting since he does not need to be protected yet, similar to Cisco last season. He may have a few more starts in his arm and might have to double jump to AA since the Lakwood staff is going to Clearwater.
    Kennelly might be like Kissock. I highly doubt the Phillies protect him so he is just trying out and would be an excellent utility type if he shows he can hit.

    I really expected Harold Garcia to go to the AFL since I would like to see him get some SS fielding work and see how his bat looks against different competition. He also missed some time early in the season so the extra month should not be too much.

    Like

  19. It looks like Amaro is going back to the Ed Wade days of sending good pitchers – who don’t need to be there – to the AFL. I don’t see the urgency to send De Fratus there at all. The guy got better every year he’s been here. Now there is a change in pattern. How many other decent pitching prospects have they ruined by sending them there? Look for injuries for De Fratus next season.

    Like

  20. I noticed they only had 3 OF’ers on the squad. I thought maybe Rizz was going to get a shot in LF.

    If another OF’er will be named, who would that be? Gillies absolutely had to go but he won’t be (because of you know what). OF’ers left in Reading are not AFL type players. I thought there was a restriction on sending players below some level. I thought it was only 1 player below AA. Of course maybe that isn’t a rule at all because Zeid and Kennelly played below AA all season. Then again, Kennelly played in AA last year. [Do you like how I’m having a conversation with myself?]

    AFL is a Fall League but if you click on the link you’ll note that MLB.com categorizes it under Winter Leagues. I guess it depends on how far south the league is. If it’s above the equator, it will be Fall and below the equator it’s Winter. I have to point out that if you playing in South America in October – December you could call it summer or freakin’ hot.

    Like

  21. The AFL is NOT a place for tryouts for the 40-man roster. Where did you ever come up with that conclusion? The Phillies accountants would be jumping for joy if they could get $50,00 for Kissock in the Rule 5 draft. He’s not a prospect at all. Neither is Zied. And neither is Savery. They will never be puton the Phils 40-man roster.

    Like

  22. You know, I’d be curious to see if Bruce Sutter makes an appearance at the AFL. If he’s there to teach Brummett and Kissock to throw a splitter, that sounds like a good idea. They’ve got nowhere to go but up.

    Like

  23. Zeid’s not a top prospect, but he’s a guy who could pitch himself into the big leagues. He was once a top high school prospect and he has decent stuff.

    Btw isn’t there international limits on the AFL rosters? I want to say each team can only pick one international player who’s home country has a winter league or something like that? That’s why I think Kennelly is the only international guy that they are sending.

    Like

  25. Garcia not mentioned is a disappointment. This season has raised his profile to a likely utility infielder for the big club; a need that should be filled. Valdez did a pretty good job, but Garcia can hit better according to his recent play.

    Maybe he’ll go to one of the “winter” leagues and be ready to start at AAA Lehigh at 2011’s opening. Still. it would have been better to have him a candidate for the big club starting in 2011. Perhaps later in the season if he does LV well.

    Like

  26. What prospects were hurt pitching in the AFL? I know the Phils pitched Mathieson there last year and he hasn’t been hurt this year. Alot of teams use the AFL for top of the line players. DeFratus has no history of injuries. The season is short enough and they don’t over work the pitchers.

    Like

  27. Yes to those that wondered, the AFL is for AA and AAA players, only one player from single A is allowed (regardless of level within single A) and only one international player is allowed and only if that player comes from a country where there is NOT another fall or winter league. The AFL is considered a prestigous league with a who’s who of past performers, it CAN be used as a try out for 40 man rosters or for trade bait as every team has scouts there as well as upper mangement is regular in attendance. On occasion its used as publicity stunts (Michael Jordan)

    Like

  28. I would think the OF would have to be Gillies but they are probably negotiating with Pinellas County Florida about that right now.

    Like

  29. Marfis: FIL a poor substitute for AFL? Who’s comparing them? No one in this thread. That’s like saying BP is a poor substitute for a real game. Duh.

    If you think Savery has had all of the brush-up, instruction, non-game and mock-game repetition he needs to take on a full season in AA or AAA, that would be naive. The question is if he is ready for AFL or if it will be too much of a challenge and set him back. FIL (regardless of whether he goes to AFL or not) is a place for him to break down his swing, perfect it, get a lot of swing repetitions and pound good fundamentals into his head before going out to the Coliseum to fight the lions. If you think his success so far prepares him for what’s to come, not true. He needs to go back to sqaure one as a hitter and start again. FIL is a great place to start that process. Phils instructors might be able to help hi. Coming out of their FLorida XST camp, Singleton was locked in and Dugan was on fire. That’s what great instruction and non-pressure situations can do to get you kick-started as a hitter. He will be on pitchers’ radar next year and he will have it tougher. He needs great prep.

    Like

  31. They didn’t send Overbeck or Garcia because the teams draft slots for the AFL, and the Phils probably didn’t get enough IF slots to send those guys. It’s pretty clear with all the IFs on the roster that other teams staffing Mesa drafted those slots higher.

    Like

  32. BTW, I would have loved to have seen Naughton go to AFL as well. He can hit, and he’s not a bad catcher.

    Like

  33. Seems the Phillies protected many of the potential rule 5 players from being exposed/examined the AFL. De Fratus and Rizzotti being the exceptions. Naylor needs to be protected, I believe. A good showing could make him a prime target in rule 5. The Phillies are already liable to lose Savery, Edgar Garcia and maybe Correia. They cannot protect everyone.

    Like

  34. Like J’n, I have a sneaking suspicion that they are trying to find a way to get Gillies to the AFL. This might depend on their working out a deal with the local District Attorney in the County where he was taken into custody. Since this is, I believe, Gillies’ first encounter with this kind of charge and if his other record is clean, a deal is more likely than not.
    Question is whether things can be worked out in time for the AFL and the roster requirements. I seem to recall that the Phils did substitute another player for the AFL when they had second thoughts about one of their previously chosen ones. So since that league begins in October, there is time enough.
    Then, how about any action by the baseball commissioner…or somesuch within MLB/MiLB ; do they have to pass on any “deal” and approve his prescription for the AFL..?

    Like

  35. Romus…I hope you are joking about 2001 AFL guys. Who Cares.

    Mike77. Who do you think would take Garica or Correia ( I spelled it the way you did but I think it is wrong) Their numbers are really bad. Maybe I have the wrong guys but… Savery…There are so many teams out there looking for 26 year old guys who have a 5 ERA in Triple A. Protect the guys that are legit.

    Like

  36. mike77 I think I misread your post. Sorry. Protect Naylor. Yep. There must be about 20-22 teams drooling to get a chance at him. He has had 4 years for a good showing and next year will be the one. We could lose 4 guys in this rule 5 draft. Thanks to the rules….which i am not sure about… we get to pull somebody guys back or something.

    Like

  37. #1flyersfan, do you know what David Herndon’s ERA was last year, when the Phillies chose him? Obviously you don’t, or you wouldn’t have made that comment. Do you know what Herndon’s age was, or his K rate, in comparison to Naylor? Guys don’t go unclaimed because of ERA. You may or may not know that.

    Like

  38. Harold Garcia played in the Winter Leagues (VZ I think) last year and got hurt. It caused him to get a late start this year. He’ll probably get some ABs in the Caribbean Leagues. But no more injuries, please.

    Like

  39. I wish that I could understand why we are worried about protecting Savery????? or Naylor makes no sense they arent top prospects, and who takes them can have them. Herdon was picked and has proven nothing why use him as a example makes no sense.

    Like

  40. Naylor has been on the 40 man roster the last 2 offseasons and there is no reason not to do so again, if not for any other reason than that , as my first post in this thread stated, there will be plenty of spaces available and not that many conceivable choices to replace them, though it is true I did not think of Edgar Garcia or Correia, but , really that was intentional. As someone above pointed out, and I had overlooked before, players from the Winter League countries, like Venezuela, Dominican Republic, etc . , are not eligible so they should be looked for in the Winter in their home countries.

    Like

  41. I thought maybe a barnes would go to afl to see if he is legit, and get some at bats against better competition, he isnt a young kid and would be a good experience for him over a kissock or naylor. just my opinion

    Like

  42. Agree that Barnes seems to be another utility-infielder-in-training…a la Garcia at Reading. Very needed at the MLB level.

    But he just completed a season in Low A ball. His offense numbers are very good:

    .296 BA, .390 OBA, 57 BB, 83 Ks, 37 2bh, in 435 PAs.

    If he is able to meet a challenge, next season will determine if he can work (hit/field) his way to Reading by season’s end.

    Right now, it is too early in his pro career (only one full pro season) for him to go to the AFL…where he could be in over his head; not good for a guy just coming on. In Oct ’11? Yes, if he does well enough in ’11’s regular season.

    Can’t be soon enough for the big club.

    Like

  43. I think the Phillies have higher expectations of Garcia than just a utility guy, although they must realize that that is one possible outcome. I suspect they view him as a possible replacement for Utley. As great as Utley is in the field and as important as his middle field position is to his overall value (value over replacement player), the injuries are beginning to mount and it wouldn’t surprise me if they want him at third base in a few years. I don’t think anything is set in stone, but Garcia becoming the second baseman is a possibility.

    Like

  44. I doubt they’ll protect Savery or Naylor. Nobody will take Savery. They are going to try to keep as low a profile with Naylor as possible – he could, however, be taken. If it happens, it won’t be the end of the world as I struggle to see how he ever becomes a Phillie. We have plenty of relievers and Worley is clearly ahead of him for next year’s 5th starter spot.

    Like

  46. Big problem with the Gillies charges are that he is Canadian. He has to be careful how all this rolls as he needs a visa to play here.

    By the way, he put a “not guilty” plea in this week.

    And Garcia can’t go to AFL because he will play in the Carribean (sic) by rule.

    Like

  47. There’s no way Utley will play 3B. His glove is average and his arm is pretty weak. There is a better chance of him playing LF.

    Like

  48. Guru, I think you overstate your case. Utley’s one of the top defensive 2nd basemen in baseball. I’d say his glove is at least above-average.

    And I really don’t see him getting moved to LF in the foreseeable future.

    Like

  49. Yeah, if you look at the defensive stats over the past few years, Utley is solid. That’s one of the reasons is WAR is quite high. This year is a little different, might be related to the hand injury.

    I am hoping that Garcia is helpful to them next year… I wish they would rotate someone like him through the lineup… if only we had a Jason Donald.

    Like

  50. They already tried Utley at 3B back in 03/04 when he was blocked by Polanco and Bell. It didn’t work then and it won’t work now. Its a non-starter.

    Like

  51. Utley played a full year at 3B in AAA in 2002 (My memory was off by a year but the reasoning of being blocked by Polly was accurate) and he posted horrific numbers: 28 Errors and a .918 fielding percentage in 123 games. At the time, they basically stated that he simply couldn’t pick up the position as its too much of a reflex/instinct thing. He’s a great defensive 2B when healthy. If he ever changes positions it will be to LF or 1B, not 3B.

    Like

  52. Just to clarify, I don’t think that he’ll move to 3B, because it’s been tried before and it didn’t work. I just didn’t like the classification of Utley as average glove and weak arm.

    To be honest, I just don’t see him moving anywhere, unless his defense falls apart. Sure, there’s an increase in chance of injury, but he’s not a perennial All-Star at 1B or LF like he is at 2B. The fact that he plays a strong defensive 2nd base (and that 2B is not usually an offensive position) adds a lot to his value.

    Like

  53. Other than pitcher or catcher is there really wear/injury risk on any other fielders? Takeout slide into 2nd base I guess. Running into the wall in OF.
    The daily grind of 162 games I think is a bigger factor and batting is not very safe with pitcher hurls 90mph baseballs nearby.

    Like

  54. I wish everyone would stop mentionining Garcia as a possible Ute in the majors. He can’t play ss and a Ute must be able to play ss. If Garcia is going to make the majors, it will have to be as a starting 2B. He may have enough ability, it just won’t be for the Phils. He’ll be a trading chip for sure as his stock has gone up lots this year.

    Like

  55. Kent, I don’t understand your comments about Ed Wade and pitchers getting hurt in the AFL. I don’t recall any Phillies pitchers ever being hurt in the AFL and Ruben is building a strong farm system. It will be exciting to see the GCL and Lakewood players progress through the minors.

    Like

  56. Utley’s experiment was short lived. Given time, he could probably be a passable 3B. He is a good athlete, instinctive, and his arm is not weak. Polanco would be the better fielder there probably, but the arms would be similar. (Someone implied he’s not instinctive? What’s that about?)

    But to me, that’s not the point. I think he will stay at 2B for a long time. Agree with Ruben there. If he were ever to move, it would be to a less taxing position, to keep his bat and offensive focus in the game longer. And that would be in mid- to late-thirties. Nix 3B.

    Like

Comments are closed.