Minor League workout groups, Volume 1

Spring Training 2011

Courtesy of veteran commenter Ricky Branch
.

Click this link for a large, readable version.

Most interesting tidbit? Jeremy Slayden is back in camp.

76 thoughts on “Minor League workout groups, Volume 1”

    1. I think that would be a mistake considering his contact issues and raw defense. He needs all the development time he can get. AA might overwhelm him. His placement does show a bunch of confidence in him.

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      1. Guessing the catching groups are a little wonky because so many are still in big league camp. Cannot imagine Valle starting in Reading; if anything, I’d expect him to repeat A+ in 2012 (catchers taking longer to develop that any other position).

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        1. A double jump would be unlikely (but Jaramillo was double jumped at one point I believe), unless they were planning on jumping Rupp to Clearwater – which is also unlikely given that Rupp is listed in Group 3

          I’m also a bit disappointed to see Eldemire in group 4, but then again I don’t think a whole lot of stock should be placed in the respective workout groups.

          – Jeff

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            1. True – but he was a three year college player when he was drafted. I’m expecting him to start at Lakewood, but it’s probably more likely he’ll go to XST to get his swing down first, then maybe a call-up to Lakewood if all goes well (a la Singleton last year)

              – Jeff

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    2. Lots of catchers go to major league camp so when the first cuts happen these groups will change substantially. Valle is most likely in Clearwater unless he has made a huge amount of progress this winter.

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  5. Guess Altherr couldn’t cut it at 3B. Disappointing, hopefully they’re giving him a look there as well, just OF is his main group.

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  8. Too quick to cancel Altherr for 3rd base. We need to watch that and see if the listing as an OF is only for convenience until further work at 3rd is accomplished.

    The prospects have only been at live practice for just several days. IMO, no decision could be made in that short time. He IS known as a superior athlete, so the effort at 3rd base is likely to continue for a while…even into the season.

    With the 3 rd base position missing among our prospects, the cutting short of this plan would be wrong. I doubt that a final judgment has been made.

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  9. Interesting that Jake Smith is listed as a pitcher. He played 3rd at Williamsport last season and hit just .132. When he drafted there was the question of if he would pitch or be a position player.

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  10. Other things I found interesting:

    Tim Kennelly is listed as an infielder.

    Edar Duran is ahead of Jeremy Barnes and Adam Buschini

    Francisco Diaz is in Group 1 (I am guessing he is just a filler)

    Joe Esposito and Jordan Ellis are ahead of Matt Way

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  11. Beware of reading too much into this. Valle will not go to AA. He is likely in a higher group because every other passable catcher at the AA-AAA level is in major-league camp because they need warm bodies.

    People like Joe Esposito and Jordan Ellis are just org guys–bodies to fill out rosters. It doesn’t mean anything to compare their position to real prospects.

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    1. Or it could be that Ellis and Esposito put up good numbers in Clearwater while Way didn’t have good numbers, although it was only a couple games. Way is younger and a high pick, but that can only go so far. Bottom line, put up numbers and you should keep climbing the ladder, regardless of how high a prospect you were.

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  12. Just comparing to last year’s rosters, it looks like Luke Wertz, Mike McGuire, Justin Long, Ryan Gugel, Fabio Murakami, Neal Davis, and Tim Brown (he started the championship game for the GCL Phillies) are gone

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    3. Also missing:
      Matt German, Kevin Angelle – Anyone know what happened to them?

      Also looking to see what happened to the mentioned: Tim Brown, Neal Davis, Ryan Gugel and Justin Long

      Anyone?

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      1. BA just updated to say Tim Brown was released, and if I recall Justin Long was suspended last season and was placed on a suspended list over the off season as well

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        1. Just fyi I wasnt suspended…. I was not sure if I wanted to come back so I was given a year furlow…. I have since retired….

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  13. Thanks for the list Rickey Branch. I don’t see rankings in the groups. I do see the possibility of players who have shown the ability to hit working out in multiple positions so they can get more at-bats. There are still a number of players in major league spring training so the catching groups mean nothing. In reading, I gather that the Phillies like both Diaz and Mitchell. One is in Group 1; the other in Group 4. Carlos Alonzo showed some pop at Williamsport. They could see him developing at catcher, which is the best path to the big leagues if you are in a crowded group of like players. I think we will see both Altherr and Dugan playing both positions this year. They will get more at-bats. The players in groups 1 and 2 seem to be older with some more likely to be off the team when push comes to shove. These seem to be organized groups for coaches to get a look and make decisions, nothing more. It is fun to speculate though.

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    1. I guess I’m surprised to see Alonzo as a catcher. Earlier we were hearing that Altherr and Alonzo were getting extra fielding practice @ 3rd base. We also heard that Alonzo was showing some quickness and skill there. I know these workout groups are not the “bible” especially this early.

      I like Ruff where he is. He was the 5th best run producer in the Phils organization last year. He’ll be 25 in July so he has to start no lower than AA.

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    1. Wonder if some of the Group 2 guys get moved at some point in the season. Just too much talent there for all of them to get enough innings on one staff. Another guy who looks ready is Aumont. He looks more lean and trim than last year and still is a very imposing figure on the mound.

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      1. I was thinking yesterday that if I could place such a bet, I would put money on Aumont pitching more big league innings (as a reliever) in 2011 than any of De Fratus, Schwimer, Mathieson, or Stutes. People forget he was considered a big-league ready reliever coming into 2010; I–perhaps over-optimistically–expect him to regain that form rather quickly.

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          1. I wouldn’t dare try to predict innings. But I don’t find it ridiculous at all. I’ve seen cases where struggling starters are moved to the bullpen and they skyrocket to the majors within a year. Aumont could be that guy. He has the raw stuff.

            A lot of it depends on the big bullpen though and how many injuries they have during the season.

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            1. “Aumont could be that guy. He has the raw stuff.”

              Does he?

              I thought so too, and that it was his lack of command that was the problem, but I believe it was the blog author here who posted otherwise, that Aumont’s stuff has fallen off from what it once was.

              Maybe someone down there could give us an update on that?

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            2. Look at Andrew Bailey’s minor league stats. He was horrible as a starter in Double A then he got switched to a reliever and the next year he won rookie of the year.

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        3. I’ll give you 5 to 1 odds. And forget whether he’ll pitch more with thebig club than De Fratus, Schwimer, Mathieson, or Stutes. I’ll give you 5 to 1 odds that Aumont won’t pitch for the big club at all in 2011. Hell, I’ll give you 1 to 1 odds that he doesn’t pitch in AAA this season

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  15. Hey RB – great stuff again. Was there a B game played yesterday? Saw notes there was supposed to be.

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    1. Not aware but the Blue Jays Stadium and complex is only 10 minutes up the road. They owe the Phils a couple B games.

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  17. The thing to watch is which players move from group to group. These early groupings are influenced by the number of prospects in major league camp. As players are re-assigned from MLB camp to minor league camp, the lesser prospects, or the guys who aren’t as ready, will be shifted down a group as well. This is our baseline group.

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  18. Great stuff Mr. Branch and right on PP. I don’t read anything into these early groups especially where the catchers are assigned.

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  19. Thanks for posting the list as always. I’ll get up a snapshot summary of the new International players later this morning.

    Other players that will be interesting to follow: Inch/Sasaki both apparently healthy. They were also in instructional league. A Marek Minarik sighting as well. And finally, I really want to see Ethan Stewart this year. He is the type of projectible lefty from a cold weather climate that could turn into nothing or maybe a lefthanded Scott Mathieson. Who knows which, but we have had some success from our scouts up north, especially if you combine Canada with Washington state guys like Trevor May and Kyle Kendrick.

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  20. Has the big club cut down its spring training roster yet? If not I imagine the first cut should happen any day now?

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    1. Orientation at the minor league camp was postponed until Saturday because of the foul weather this morning in the Tampa Bay area. I suspect we’ll see a round of cuts on Saturday or perhaps Monday

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  21. The highlights of the game today was the Mayberry home run and Rizzotti’s stolen base. Rizzo slid under a throw by Molina on the back end of a double steal and later came in to score. He has two steals in his four year minor league career . Seems like Mayberry has won a spot on the bench and will give Ibanez and Howard an occasional break against lefties. This guy is lefthanded pitchers worst nightmare and knows what he is doing around first and can play all the outfield positions. Moss and Kratz will hit a lot of homers at AAA. They put some charges into the ball today and are fun watching in BP drive the ball deep.

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      2. I hereby bequeath upon thee, John Mayberry Jr, the nickname “Mr. March.” Arise, sir knight, and take your place on the bench.

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      3. Its comments like this that make no one at all take you seriously.

        He’s a troll, people…just don’t look.

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      4. I more agree than don’t agree. Anyone counting on JM jr. to positively contribute to a big league baseball team lives in a gingerbread house.

        he won’t be a Rivershark until 31 though. He was a 1st round pick afterall. But around that time, he and Golson can share rides to the Camden ballpark in their escalades.

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    2. RB – So you think Kratz will be at AAA with Sardinha? I thought Goosewich had a chance there with Naughton at AA.

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      1. I’m 100% certain Kratz will be at Lehigh Valley. He wouldn’t sign with his hometown team just to get sent down to Reading. I think if Gosewisch were to get promoted, he would take Dane Sardinha’s spot.

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        1. Yeah, I agree Alan. Tuffy may be the guy who comes to AAA when/if Kratz/Sardinha are needed in Philly. The question is, where does Suomi fit in all this? He may be the odd guy out, or left behind in Clearwater until needed.

          I’m looking forward to plenty of slugging by my AAA guys this year: Moss, Kratz, Larish…

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          1. Suomi fits in simply as organizational filler. He can swing the bat a bit, but is awful defensively.

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    3. Stutes had another good outing with the homeplate ump suggesting that he had great late movement on his fastball.

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  22. It is absolutely ridiculous to think Mayberry can’t be a 5th OF / backup 1B for the Phils, literally crazy. Anybody else thinking this Barfield guy is going to get more non-Utley AB’s at 2B this year than Valdez or anyone else? He looks pretty good to me…

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    2. Mayberry can hit left handed pitching just as well as Francisco and can play 1B…He played there at times at Stanford. I agree with “anonymous” that Mayberry is rosterable.

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    1. Just my uneducated guesses –

      AAA
      RHP Vance Worley
      RHP Brian Bass
      RHP Drew Naylor
      RHP Andrew Carpenter
      RHP Mike Cisco

      AA
      RHP Austin Hyatt
      RHP J.C. Ramirez
      RHP Joe Esposito
      RHP Jon Velasquez
      Somebody Else

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      1. Worley, Feirebend, Naylor, Bass, Bump – AAA
        Hyatt, Ramirez, Way, Cisco, ???? I would like to see Nick Hernandez here but I’m guessing he starts at the lower levels. Not a fan of Velasquez or Correia. May could also get a look later in the season.

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  24. Singleton looks out-of-place in Group 3. Why isn’t he in Group 2 with fewer outfielders and more advanced prospects?

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  25. Got: AAA- V. Worley, D. Carpenter, D. Naylor, D. Herndon, N. Bump/ E. Bonine
    AA- J.C. Ramirez, A. Hyatt, T. May, J. Zied, M. Way/M. Cisco

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  26. First minor league assignments announced. Bass, Bonine, Carpenter, Feierabend, De Fratus, Naylor, Ramirez, Schwimer, Garcia, Hernandez, Rivero, Rizzotti, Naughton, Bozied, Quinlan and Miller sent down. Stutes is still with the major league team.

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    1. Yep. I suspect the LHV staff to look similar to the below, and without Carp;
      RHP Vance Worley
      RHP Brian Bass
      RHP Nate Bump
      RHP Drew Naylor
      RHP Mike Cisco

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  28. Amaro sounded positive that de fraus will be a big league relief pitchers, just needs more innings, he was on wip this morning.

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  29. I saw on the Reading Phillies site and here this guy Sebastian Boucher, outfielder. Does anybody have info on him? I figured right now Gillies in cf, Mitchell and Susdorf the corners and Myers off the bench to start the season at Reading.

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  30. Sebastian Boucher , was most recently signed out of the Can/Am League. He has past professional experience, maybe even MLB, not sure. Reading Roster on MiLB.com, click on name.

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  31. Was their a big adjustment in workout groups yesterday? By your post Im noticing a few different names in group 2

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  32. I played with Sebatian lat year in Quebec. He’s got good legs and is a seasoned outfielder. His hands stay back pretty well on off speed and he seemed to be pretty clutch when he needed to be. He showed decent power to all fields and has a good mental game to go along with it. Im pretty sure he got to AAA with the Orioles or Mariners and was traded to either team for a MLB guy but had juan pierre or someone like that in front of him that yr and it happened to bet the year that certain player excelled. He’s a pretty good guy and appears to adapt well to situations.

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