All posts by PhillyFriar

Phillies sign Miguel Nunez, have “mild interest” in Chia-Jung Lee

International Signings, Transactions

Thanks for all those pointing this out in the comments.  Paul Hagen from the Philadelphia Daily News has the scoop on the Phillies’ latest international signing: Miguel Nunez, a 6’6″ right-hander from the Dominican Republic, who signed recently for a $220K bonus.

Analysis?  Well, that’s a projectable frame.  Seriously though, we don’t know much yet, so I’ve sent an email to Ben Badler from Baseball America, who’s their international guy.  What we do know is that this follows in the organization’s habit of inking medium-range international signees: both Lino Martinez ($325K) and community #6 prospect Domingo Santana ($300K) were signed via this route in the past year.

Hagen also reports the Phillies’ “mild interest” in Taiwanese outfielder Chia-Jung Lee, a 21-year old from Leader University who would receive in the neighborhood of a $100K bonus.

A Closer Look: Steve Susdorf

A Closer Look

I’ll admit it: this post was partially inspired by a couple of comments I’ve read on the site here to the effect of, “Well, Susdorf isn’t a prospect, but…”  While I understand the sentiment — no, he isn’t your classic toolsy high schooler, or Top-10 Round college stud — I have to say: Steve Susdorf is very much a prospect, at least until he stops hitting like a man on a mission.

Check below the fold as we look at where Susdorf’s been, and try to figure out where he might be headed.

Continue reading A Closer Look: Steve Susdorf →

Phillies Sign Lino Martinez for $325,000

International Signings, Transactions

Hat tip to Ben Badler of Baseball America, who has been all over the international market.  Per BA…

[A] 6-foot lefthander from Venezuela[,] Martinez, 16, throws 86-88 mph with good feel for a changeup. Martinez’s breaking ball is a work in progress, but he has some athleticism and a good delivery.

Have to say I agree with andyb: it’d be great to see the organization make a couple of signings in this price range, as they’ve had some success there over the years.  Domingo Santana was signed for $300,000, and he’s already got 3 HRs in 5 games for the GCL Phillies, so he’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Feel free to use this thread to discuss the international market.  And as James said below, enjoy your holiday weekend!

A Closer Look: Travis D’Arnaud

A Closer Look

It’s been quite some time since I did one of these, and for that I apologize.  We spend a lot of time on this site talking about the Kyle Drabeks and Michael Taylors, and I don’t know if there’s enough occasion to give the other guys their due.  When I started this feature, I vowed to look at some of the more under-the-radar guys in the system, and while Travis D’Arnaud may not necessarily qualify, I feel like he’s slipped from our consciousness with his rough start to the 2009 season.  But I want to go ahead and dig into his numbers from this year, and see why it’s far too early to be disappointed.

Continue reading A Closer Look: Travis D’Arnaud →

Double-Teamed: Love from BA and BP

Collier, Zach, ESPN/BA/BP Mentions, Ten Pack/Hot Sheet

First off, apologies for having not cranked out A Closer Look piece in a little bit, though big thanks to governator for his interesting piece on Matt German in the meantime.  Not sure if I’ll have a chance to write anything before I head on vacation this weekend, but I’ll definitely be back at it when I get back.

In the meantime, the system got some pub from both BA and BP today.  Check below the jump for the goods.

Continue reading Double-Teamed: Love from BA and BP →

Taylor makes the Minor League Update

Ten Pack/Hot Sheet

It’s not technically the BP Ten Pack or the BA Hotsheet, but Kevin Goldstein has started giving daily minor league updates over at Baseball Prospectus.  It hasn’t fallen under the guise of premium content (at least not yet), so it’s certainly worth the daily read for all of you minor league aficionados.  Anyhoo, Goldstein has Michael Taylor in today’s update:

Michael Taylor, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading)
Thursday’s stats: 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (3), 5 RBI
After three disappointing years at Stanford, Taylor got away from the single-plane “Stanford swing” in 2008 and suddenly delivered a .346/.412/.557 season while suddenly looking like the player who in high school was one of the best tools guys in the country. A monster athlete at six-foot-six and 250 pounds, Taylor is batting .424 during a current seven game hitting streak and .338/.389/.569 overall. The scary part? Some think he’s just starting to tap into his potential.

Just to add a few tidbits: there was some concern last year that Taylor’s strikeout-to-walk ratio in Clearwater indicated that he would have some difficulty adjusting to Double-A, but his 10:6 ratio so far this year is more than manageable.  His .231 ISO, 6 walks, and 5 stolen bases (in 5 attempts) add up to a .400 SecA.  We’re just a few weeks into the season, but the early returns are certainly promising.

Another Big Night for Phillies Starters

Bastardo, Antonio

No, it wasn’t quite the banner day that last Tuesday was, but Saturday night was still an impressive night for 3 of the 4 minor league pitchers who took the bump in the Phillies organization.

Reading: Antonio Bastardo (5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Clearwater: Yohan Flande (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K)
Lakewood: Tyler Cloyd (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)

Moved back to the rotation from the bullpen, Bastardo responded with 5 frames of no hit ball before being lifted, presumably for reaching his pitch count.  The 23-year old Flande, meanwhile, ran his scoreless streak to 18 innings after jumping straight to the FSL from the GCL, and Cloyd turned in perhaps his finest outing as a professional in the BlueClaws’ 1-0 win.

Obviously this trio isn’t nearly the caliber of prospect as the Carrasco/Drabek/Knapp group, but they certainly have a future if they continue the path they’re on this year.  Now if only those bats would warm up a bit…

A Closer Look: Chance Chapman

A Closer Look

We move on to our second installment of A Closer Look, but we don’t move very far, staying in Clearwater to take a look at Threshers pitcher Chance Chapman.

Chapman was the Phillies’ 8th Round Pick in 2007 out of Oral Roberts, and he signed almost immediately for a $20K bonus.  BA had this to say about him when he was taken…

Chapman’s strikeout pitch is a big league slider, and he also has an 88-91 mph fastball with life. When he commands his fastball, he’s tough to hit. Chapman’s age works against him, as he’s 23 after spending three years at Cuesta (Calif.) Junior College and missing all of 2004 with an injury.

Now in his third season of pro ball, I think it’s fair to assess what Chapman has achieved so far, and project where his career might be headed.  Check below the jump as we tackle the numbers.

Continue reading A Closer Look: Chance Chapman →

Labrum Surgery for Kyle Slate?

Other Stuff

This was actually posted Thursday by a commenter, but I didn’t see it until now, and I think it bears mentioning.

Shoulder Surgery Likely for Kyle Slate

…an MRI has revealed a tear in his right labrum.

“Surgery looks likely,” said the 6-foot-5, 200 pound right-hander. He said the surgery would sideline  him 7-10 months.

A really tough break for a kid who missed parts of last year with mononucleosis, but who has been very effective when he’s been able to pitch.  He’s been mentioned before on this site as a sleeper, but he’s only managed to log 29.2 IP over the past 2 years.  Here’s wishing Kyle the best in his recovery.