39 thoughts on “Minor League Discussion: Week of November 26, 2018”

1. I saw a list of potential Rule V signees by team, and there appeared to be some interesting names, especially as bullpen arms. Does anyone think we may go that route for a particular player?

   1. No.

   2. Let’s get behind Cole Irvin as a member of the 2019 Phillies starting rotation. This might affect decisions on trades and FA.

2. Phillies Winter League Stats have not had much to get excited about for the past month but finally today I see a performance to get excited about.

   Kyle Glogoski in Australia. 2 starts. 10 ip. 1 h. 0 r. 2 bb. 12 k.

   Phillies signed him out of New Zealand in Jan’18. (Maybe he’s comfortable playing in the ABL. Regardless, he’s pitching well!)

   1. Glogoski looks like a find, you never know. He’s just turning 20 and is throwing 94.

      1. I’ve got Glogoski as part of Lakewood’s 2019 rotation. I posted this about a month and a half ago. Here’s the way I see next season’s rotations:

         Williamsport

         Victor Santos
         Ben Brown
         Dominic Pipkin
         Kyle Glogoski
         Gabriel Cotto

         Lakewood

         Kevin Gowdy
         Francisco Morales
         Jhordany Mezquita
         Ethan Lindow
         Manuel Silva
         Tyler McKay

         Clearwater

         Colton Eastman
         Kyle Young
         Will Stewart
         David Parkinson
         James McArthur
         Damon Jones

         Reading

         Sixto Sanchez
         Adonis Medina
         JoJo Romero
         Connor Seabold
         Bailey Falter
         Spencer Howard

         LHV

         Enyel De Los Santos
         Ranger Saurez
         Cole Irvin
         Drew Anderson
         Thomas Eshelman
         Jose Taveras

         I’m really looking forward to my projected Lakewood pitching staff. I believe Kevin Gowdy (already at #10 on my top 50 list) will finally have his breakout season now that he’s healthy. Morales and Silva have tremendous upsides, and Tyler McKay would be my sleeper candidate (if we still voted on that).

         First time back on the mound in 326 days, finally starting to feel like I actually play baseball again!!! pic.twitter.com/yiTyXylgY8

         — Kevin Gowdy (@kgowdy34) July 7, 2018

         Love my job. pic.twitter.com/Xve5hlV9pt

         — Tyler McKay (@tylermckay_11) September 25, 2018

         1. Didnt Tavares get claimed by another team?

            1. Taveras is still on the Reading roster and Baseball-America still has him in the Phillies organization but not sure how reliable these are in the short run.

               1. He is still in the org….was on minor league DL for shoulder issues almost all season starting sometime in the spring…DFA in Aug, not claimed and functioned as org bullpen depth.

         2. Great post.

            Is it just me, or do these rotations also excite the rest of you!? Maybe it’s just the optimist in me, but I believe there are MANY very strong pitching prospects here PLUS even more good prospects with big upsides!

            I remain a huge fan of Howard (my breakthru pick last yr), Romero, and Morales (and I’ll add Gowdy though I want to know about his ‘stuff’, not just that he’s ‘healthy’). And of course Sanchez and Medina! Plus, De Los Santos.

            And big possible upside in soooo many more!

            Btw, I don’t see Mauricio Llovera. (He’s #27 on my list.) Anything happen to him?

            1. Llovera. …more than likely headed to Reading.
               His 121 innings of xFIP 3.3 at Clearwater is plenty fine and should warrant him the next move up the ladder.

               1. I think he’ll be a reliever.

               2. Maybe we lose Eshelman, Romero goes up to AAA, and Llovera has spot at AA.

                  Murray, you may be right about him longterm. I’d be interested to see how he does as SP at AA though. He’s been a consistent SP at couple levels so far.

            2. Howard, I believe was one of my breakthrough prospects. Call it a hunch, but I think he’s going to end up being a dominant major league pitcher and I really don’t want him (or Sixto) included in any trade. If this team is to become great and stay great, they are going to need a talent pipeline with players like Howard.

         3. @hinkie – we agree in a lot of things and Tyler McKay is another example. Keylan Killgore is another prospect I like. I like Killgore better than Dohy and Warren. And I’ll also keep an eye on Waylon Richardson.

      2. Kyle is scheduled to start an ABL Game at 6pm Eastern Time and it is streamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4URW7871xPZrbeiPREOldA

         1. Gotta catch him early in the season. He will be shut down when he reaches his innings limit – 25 innings.

3. Hinkie, Are you projecting Glogoski to reach Lakewood during the season or did you revise your projection that he will start at Williamsport?

   1. That’s my bad. I meant to say Glogoski will be a part of the Williamsport rotation. Sorry for that.
      * read twice, post once.

      1. Good work! I have to look at my list but I initially notice Fanti is not here. If healthy he’ll have a spot at Cwater. McKay would be a surprise pick to me but an interesting one. Gowdy definitely won’t pitch the entire season either.

         1. If Fanti is back, I can see him pitch in CLW and move Damon Jones in the pen. Jones has an erratic command so i don’t see him as a starter long term.

4. Really looking forward to Gowdy getting going.

5. AFL listed their top 25 prospects, not a Phillie (Listi, Hall, Gamboa) in sight.

6. I’m surprised that the Phillies did not protect Mo Llovera. I rather have Llovera than Luis Garcia in the roster. Luis Avilan is another expendable body. I prefer Tyler Gilbert than Avilan.

   1. Don’t have to protect him until next year.

7. I agree Kurt. Llovera has shown his growth and should of been protected instead of García. I understand Medina, everyone likes his potential, especially because he has shown at times a Whoa factor. Gamboa is a mystery to me. Good fielding SS are abound but Gamboa has shown mediocre growth at the plate and no maturity on the field. My hopes he is tired and not hurt. Seen the kid make Great plays.

   1. Harvey…….Llovera needs no protection until Nov 2019….he signed a few months earlier than his 19th birthday in April 2015, so he is good to go this season without being on the 40.

8. I’m excited for Gowdy’s return. Easy to get excited about Sixto,Medina,Howard, Romero, and Gowdy. Hoping one can develop into a nice home grown piece for the Phillies.

   Any reports on Gowdy’s pre and post injury velocity?

   1. Some baseball footage from BaseballBetsy of his first batter faced seven weeks ago in the FIL:
      Jim may be able to give you his velo at the time

9. Interesting…

   https://www.prospectslive.com/lists/2018/11/25/philadelphia-phillies-top-30-prospects

   1. I was just about to post this. I really respect the scout who wrote this post. He knows his stuff.

   2. You beat me to it, Mr. Howard.
      Congratulations on Spencer ranked at #9 (I have him at #8 on my list). There’s a lot to like about this list.
      BTW … here’s their Phillies top 30 podcast. There is a little variance here. Podcast has DLS at #6 and moves Spencer to #10.
      https://www.prospectslive.com/podcasts/2018/11/29/podcast-philadelphia-phillies-top-30-prospects

      1. On Luis Garcia (from the podcast):

         * Elite bat to ball skills
         * Elite bat speed
         * More pop to come
         * Is a future superstar
         * Should start 2019 in Lakewood, get promoted to Clearwater, and could play in Futures Game as an 18 YO.

         1. So very encouraging!

         2. The Phillies fans are clamoring for the Acuna Jr., Soto type uber player —- Luis Garcia will be the Phillies version of that!! Luis Garcia will be a guaranteed Top 100 prospect and be Top 1-2 Phillies next season!!

            Luis Garcia is probably the reason why it will be easier for Klentak to move on from JPC. The kid is L.E.G.I.T !!!

            1. ETA 2021 if we can be patient. Some kids just have “it”, that knack for making it look effortless, smooth as silk. We’ll have to work on his nickname….Luis Garcia is a bit generic.

               1. Yeah – sounds like a relief pitcher. . . . Wait a minute.

         3. I spoke with a scout who asked to remain anonymous, but said the following:

            Hey buddy. Garcia has some of the loudest tools I’ve seen come through in the past 10 years. The only real knock I saw was just how much he really likes to play the game. Lots of nonchalant stuff. Big arm but bounced throws because he’s just going through the motions. Hopefully as he matures that stuff will go away. Sky is the limit with him

            Take it for what it’s worth because he is really young. But seems like elite tools.

10. Hinkie – Wow! That’s high praise.

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