Starting with catcher, I am going to take a position by position look at the positional group, and highlight some players in it. This is not a comprehensive organizational list of each position, but it is meant to give a good feel for position as a whole. Each position will have its own feel for the categories and questions.
Players: Name-Age-Projected 2014 Level (Top 30 Rank)
Carlos Ruiz – 35 – MLB
Wil Nieves – 36 – MLB
Cameron Rupp – 25 – AAA (23)
Koyie Hill – 37 – AAA
Tommy Joseph – 22 – AA (22)
Sebastian Valle – 23 – AA
Logan Moore – 23 – A+
Josh Ludy – 23 – A+
Andrew Knapp – 22 – A+ (13)
Gabriel Lino – 20 – A-
Chad Carman – 24 – A-
Willians Astudillo – 22 – A-
Deivi Grullon – 18 – SS (8)
Jake Sweaney – 19 – SS
Gregori Rivero – 17 – Rk
Position Overview: Catcher is fairly deep for the Phillies. There isn’t any huge upside knocking on the door to the majors, but with 4 players in the Top 30 prospects (and one just missing) there is a chance at a starter among the group. At the major league level, Carlos Ruiz is more than serviceable right now, and if he is out for any amount of time it could accelerate Cameron Rupp‘s ascent to the major leagues. In the lower levels, Gabriel Lino has big time tools and Andrew Knapp could move quickly if healthy. In addition to Andrew Knapp, the Phillies took another catcher in the early rounds of the 2013 draft, Jake Sweaney. Sweaney made some prospect lists this winter, and while the results have been underwhelming, his scouting reports as an amatuer were glowing. Overall there is talent from top to bottom.
Future of the Position: Deivi Grullon, was the top catching prospect on my rankings this offseason. He is eons away, so there is room that another guy seizes the job before Grullon arrives. Grullon however, does offer the most upside, with potential elite defense and enough bat to not be a zero. He will start the year in Extended Spring Training, with a trip to Williamsport later in the year.
Breakout Prospect: It has been a while since Tommy Joseph has been fully healthy. Joseph has some big tools in a strong arm and big raw power, but is still raw in between. If Joseph can put together a healthy year, his stock could jump up prospect lists as he regains some of his status as a near ready major league regular. Joseph should start in Reading, splitting time between catcher and DH.
Who?: We often forget about players who start in international leagues. In the summer of 2012, the Phillies signed SS/3B Gregori Rivero for more than $100,000 and converted him to catcher. During the 2013 season in the VSL Rivero hit .266/.321/.344, though with only 3 walks to 37 strikeouts. A former switch hitter (now only RH), Rivero’s bat is his carry tool, and it offers an interesting chance to hit for average and a bit of power.
Phuture Phillies 
If Tommy Joseph can have a break out year that would be just what this org needs after the injuries and all
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One question comes to mind. Since the Phils are absolutely stinking up the joint, wouldn’t it be better to bring Cam Rupp north, as the backup catcher? He’s hitting a ton more than Nieves and can probably perform decently defensively. I know… he’s not getting paid a major league salary like Nieves and they’d have to eat that. But having Rupp in the majors would allow Valle and TJ to separate and prove or finally disprove their abilities. Does Nieves have options left?
This is the year the Phils need to try some things. Ruf and Rupp are two options I’d try.
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Given that they are committed to paying Ruiz, the backup catcher won’t get much playing time. Rupp is going to get a lot more ABs in AAA. As for splitting Joseph and Valle, Valle is a marginal prospect now, and is developmental priorities are well behind Rupp and Joseph.
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I think you are overlooking Valle a little as a prospect. He is coming off a bad year with no development, but he recovered nicely in winter ball. I just don’t see a whole lot of difference between him and Rupp and a now-diminished Joseph in terms of potential. I’d give Valle the backup role in AAA and try to keep him fresh with some DH at bats. Hill would then go to AA and just be moved around the upper levels as needed by injury.
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There’s a very big difference between Valle and Rupp, even though both may be similar defensively. Rupp is improving as a hitter with decent plate discipline and burgeoning power. Rupp has an outside chance to develop into a second division regular in the big leagues and a very fine backup catcher on a good team – the type of guy who could sub for the starter for a month without a ton of drop off (assuming the starter isn’t somebody like Buster Posey). Valle has zero plate discipline which means he has essentially no projection as a big leaguer hitter – so there’s quite a big difference between the two.
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I am not sure the difference is as big as you say. Remember Rupp is 2 years older than Valle. Valle had a nice winter season – nothing incredible – but certainly enough to think last year in AA was a little bit of an aberration and at his age future improvement is still possible. Here is how I would rank the 3 catchers on a scouting scale with their odds of getting there.
Rupp – Current – 40; Future – 45; Odds of Getting There: 75%
Valle – Current – 35; Future – 50; Odds of Getting There: 50%
Joseph – Current – 30; Future – 55; Odds of Getting There: 25%
Those are rough and meant more for comparisons. Rupp had a poor BB rate in AAA last year too. Hopefully he masters that aspect this year. I just think we put too much emphasis on any one year here and Valle, while no longer a top prospect, is far too young and talented to write off yet. Rupp has developed nicely, but given his age I am really not expecting more than a decent backup career. BABIP might also explain much of the variation last year. Rupp was .318 and Valle was .236 (after .315 in 2012). Valle also improved his bad walk rate from 3.2% to 5.0% and cut his K rate from 27.7% to 23.2% (Rupp was 28%).
Valle clearly should have been better while repeating a level. He just would not be the first minor leaguer to have a disappointing year after not getting a promotion who then goes onto a major league career.
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Valle IMHO is horrible. I’ve seen him several times in person and he did nothing to stand out . . . I literally have had legion players who played better defense then he did (in the games I saw him). I even did his pop time and it was a little under average. I’m just not a big fan of his tools. I think the Phillies scouting department was way off with him. As far as Rupp goes he’s nothing more then an average back up, nothing wrong with that at all.
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