Baseball America’s Ben Badler published an International Review of the Phillies signings.  He stated that during the signing period that began July 2, 2017 that the Phillies have signed 54 players and gave a brief synopsis of seven.

The players he covered are (see article for full descriptions) –

1. 17-year old, SS Luis Garcia (DR) – top signing at $2.5 million. Supposed to be a top defensive player
2. 17-year old, RHP Victor Vargas (Col) signed for $525.5K. FB projects low 90s with advanced secondaries
3. 17-year old, C Cesar Rodriguez (Ven) signed for $500K. Hit first-over-power-over defense right now
4. 17-year old, RHP Carlos Betancourt (Ven) signed for $460K. Athletic w/FB that reached 94 mph
5. 17-year-old, RHP Alfonso Puello (DR) signed for $460K. Big frame, chance to develop into a power arm
6. 16-year old, OF Jefferson Garcia (DR) signed for $265K. One of the youngest players in the 2017 class (The Phillies announced his signing as Jefferson Encarnacion.)
7. 17-year-old, C Oscar Gonzalez (Ven) signed for $135K. Offensive-minded

The Phillies are still signing a few international free agents each week.  In addition to the seven mentioned in Badler’s article, I count another 57 international free agents signed by the Phillies.  Here are the 64 I’ve recorded since 7/2/2017 in sign date order  –



The Phillies provided the attached XST roster.  It included 80 players who are taking part in the games at the Complex. Continue reading 2018 Extended Spring Training Roster →

A frigid first week of the season weather wise for the ‘Pigs who came out of it, 2-3 with their win over Scranton last night.  They currently sit in 4th place of the Northern DIvision of the International League, 1.5 games out of first place. With their 2-0 win last night, the ‘Pigs snapped a three game losing streak.  The ‘Pigs open their home schedule tonight with four games against Louisville.

–Five IronPigs pitchers combined on the shutout last night (Thompson,Leibrandt, Casimiro, Curtis, Beato)

–P Enyel De Los Santos (acquired in the Freddy Galvis deal) made his first IL start on Tuesday giving up a lone run across 5IP.  De Los Santos struck out 7 in his five innings.

–P Drew Anderson was placed on the DL yesterday after being diagnosed with a strained forearm.  Jake Thompson, who was optioned to Lehigh Valley on Sunday, made the start in place of Anderson.

–P Brandon Leibrandt is being transitioned into a relief pitcher, and has thrown well throwing 4.2 scoreless in his first two outings of the year.

–SS Alexei Amarista was signed as a free agent by Lehigh Valley in late March and has hit safely in all 4 of his games with the IronPigs.

–The ‘Pigs are really struggling with the stick in their first five games, hitting just .201, however hitters have drawn 25 walks ranking third in the IL.

–Closer Pedro Beato has converted 15 straight save opportunities going back to last year, including his first two this season.

–After a very good Spring Training with the big club, Jesmuel Valentin has started the season 0-13.

–LHP Cole Irvin was very impressive in his AAA debut, going 5IP and giving up just a run on four hits, while tying his career high of 10K’s.

–OF Andrew Pullin is hitless in his last 14AB after singling in his first AB of 2018

–Phillies minor league clubs currently are 5-18 on the season.

‘Pigs Probables:  Fri: Eshelman; Sat: Irvin; Sun: De Los Santos;  Mon: Thompson

Continue reading 2018 Gulf Coast League Schedules →

The baseball off season went from tepid to boiling this week.  Prior to Baseball’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, the free agent and trading markets were stagnant. Continue reading How Do You Like Them Transactions? →

Reflecting back on the 2017 season, below are my picks for best tools among Clearwater Threshers this year.

Best Fastball: Sixto Sanchez

Sanchez hit triple digits a handful of times across his five starts for Clearwater. His heater easily sits around 97-98 mph, and he gets it over the plate consistently, having walked only 18 batters total this year between Clearwater and Lakewood.

Best Changeup: Jose Taveras

Taveras’ fastball sits around 90 mph, but he kept hitters off-balance with one of the better changeups in the league. While his stuff isn’t flashy, Taveras has found a way to be successful at every level at which he’s played, soaring all the way to Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year. Not only did Taveras reach AAA, he dominated there – posting a 1.32 ERA in seven starts.

Best Breaking Ball: Edgar Garcia

Entering this year, Garcia’s slider was ranked as the best in the Phillies farm system per Baseball America. The 20-year-old had some struggles with consistency, particularly in the later stages of the season, but that slider paired with a low/mid 90’s fastball should keep him on the radar.

Best Control: Cole Irvin

The 23-year-old lefty walked only 14 batters in 67 innings for Clearwater, issuing two walks or less in 10 of his 12 appearances before his promotion to Reading. Irvin, who works with a four-pitch mix plus several variations on the fastball, was a Florida State League All-Star this year and has emerged as one of the top left-handed hurlers in the system.

Best Speed: Zach Coppola

Coppola was one of only four Threshers this year to reach double digits in stolen bases, despite playing in only 45 games before earning a promotion to Reading. Between the two levels, the 23-year-old swiped 39 bags in 54 attempts (72.2% success rate).

Best Hitter for Average: Damek Tomscha

Tomscha provided consistent production from the middle of the order, batting .329 in April, .278 in May, and .308 in June, before a DL stint and a subsequent move up to Reading. Tomscha hit .270 or higher in every month of the season, batting a combined .307 on the year.

Best Outfield Arm: Jan Hernandez

Jose Pujols is a close second; both possess cannons from right, but give the edge to Hernandez for better accuracy. Hernandez started the year as Clearwater’s third baseman, but moved to the outfield in July for the first time in his career. He collected five outfield assists – tied for most on the team – in just 23 games.

Best Raw Power: Jose Pujols

Pujols finished with eight home runs, a year after leading the SAL with 24, but in terms of raw ability and BP display, the power to both fields is unquestionably present.

Best Defender: Mark Laird

Laird was automatic in center for Clearwater this season, recording the first 1.000 fielding percentage among outfielders in the FSL in the last five years (the last to do it was former Thresher Pete Lavin in 2012). Laird, 23, handled 226 total chances flawlessly, and has not committed an error since July 16, 2016 while playing left for the Williamsport Crosscutters.

Under the Radar Prospect: Jacob Waguespack

Waguespack had a breakout year in 2017, culminating in seven innings of one-run, three-hit ball in an elimination game in the International League playoffs. The 23-year-old started the season in the Threshers bullpen but stepped into the rotation for the first time in his career in May, and surrendered two runs or less in each of his first seven starts. He posted a combined 3.42 ERA between Clearwater and Reading this year.

Waguespack was a non-drafted free agent signed out of Ole Miss in 2015. The 6’6” right-hander now features a fastball in the 93-95 mph range as a starter and 95-96 mph from the pen, and a hard, biting cutter in the upper 80’s/low 90’s. Since moving into the rotation he began throwing his changeup and curveball, both of which have shown progress, and implemented a slider midseason.

He has never appeared on a prospect list, and remains under the radar due to the fact he was not drafted and had not started prior to this year. Yet the cutter and mid-90’s fastball alone give him, at the least, a future as a Major League reliever.

Here’s another article submitted by one our readers.  As always, the opinions stated in a submitted article are not those of the staff here at Phuture Phillies.  I expect that the opinion stated in the article could ignite a spirited debate.  But, keep in mind that it is NOT a defense of the unpopular GM. Continue reading Was It Amaro, or Was It Us? →

Lehigh Valley

Cam Perkins, 26, Phils 6th round pick in 2012; .288/.374/.447 in 257AB; 7HR 27RBI; 3SB; 10%BB/16%K; For Phils: .174/.232/.267 in 86AB; 61 games in the OF with 4 errors and 3 OF assists; 4 games at 1B without an error; Perkins continued to be a plus hitter and fielder at the AAA level but it did not translate to the majors in Perkins time with the big club this season.  Perkins can be a competent #5 major league outfielder but I believe with the talent coming through the OF, he just as likely could be DFA’d in the offseason.  Grade: B-

Roman Quinn, 24, Phils 2nd round pick in 2011; .274/.344/.389 in 175AB; 2HR 13RBI; 10SB; 9%BB/25%K; 44 games in the OF with 4 errors, 2 OF assists; I am at a loss for words on Quinn but Ill try.  Another season cut significantly short by injury; When healthy (and that is almost never), he is a true talent.  He hasn’t played a game since May.  Grade: D-; 2018: Quinn is a guy the Phils are more than likely afraid to remove from the 40 because they will lose him because his upside is tremendous.  He will likely stick around one more year to prove his health.

Andrew Pullin,23, Phils 5th round pick in 2012; .272/.327/.488 in 504AB; 20HR 69RBI; 5SB; 6%BB/17%K; For LV: .231/.280/.412 in 238AB; 6HR 23RBI; 20%K; 95 games in the OF with 3 errors, 2 OF assists; Pullin moved up to Lehigh Valley after raking for parts of the last two seasons in Reading and the AAA numbers were mediocre in the half season up with the ‘Pigs.  Grade: B-; 2018: Pullin is Rule 5 eligible if not added to the 40.  I don’t think he will be added, nor do I think he will be selected in the Rule 5.  2018: Lehigh Valley

Herlis Rodriguez, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2011; .249/.314/398 in 357AB between Clearwater, Reading and LV; 11HR 34RBI; 10SB; .216/.259/.318 in 148AB with LV; 3%BB/24%K; 77 games in the OF with 3 errors, 7 OF assists; 6 games at 1B without an error; Rodriguez played well at Clearwater but them slumped in Lehigh Valley.  The Phils likely wanted to see Rodriguez get some significant playing time in against high level competition as unless he is added to the 40 man roster, he will become a minor league free agent.  I think it very unlikely he is added to the 40 man.  Grade: C

Dylan Cozens, 23, Phils 2nd round pick in 2012; .210/.301/.418 in 476AB; 27HR 75RBI; 8SB; 11%BB/36%K rates; .194 vs LHP; .217 vs RHP; .165 last 30 days; .151/.273/.283 Post All Star Game with a 44%K rate; 109 games in the OF with 4 errors and 9 OF assists; Regress is too diplomatic a term to describe what happened to Cozens during the second half of the season.  The numbers are mind bogglingly (is that a word?) poor.  His power potential and athleticism rank at the top of the Phils prospects but any semblance of long term success is a real question mark.  Grade: D; 2018: Lehigh Valley

Carlos Tocci, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2011; .294/.346/.381 in 482AB; 3HR 52RBI; 4/9SB; 6%BB/15%K; For LV: Hit .189 in 53AB; 123 games in the OF with 2 errors; 8 OF assists; Tocci had an excellent season in Reading before struggling in the last month of the season for Lehigh Valley; Tocci will never hit for power but did a nice job hitting for average and knocked in 50+ with is a nice number for Tocci.  His fielding remains outstanding.  Grade: B+; 2018: I hope to see Tocci on the 40 man and in Lehigh Valley Continue reading Report Card–Outfield, CW, REA and LV →

Lakewood

Adam Haseley, 21, Phils 1st round pick in 2017; .284/.357/.405 between GCL, WP and Lakewood in 215AB; 3HR 28RBI; 6SB; 9%BB/18%K; Hit .258 for Lakewood in 18 games; 49 games in the OF with 1 error and 1 OF assist; Many expected Haseley to immediately start his career in Clearwater but it didn’t happen that way.  He produced for both GCL and Williamsport as expected and was coming around for Lakewood at the end of a very long year for Haseley; Grade: B; 2018: CLearwater

Mickey Moniak, 19, Phils 1st round pick in 2016; .236/.284/.341 in 466AB; 5HR 44RBI; 11/18SB; 6%BB/23%K; .179 vs LHP; .255 vs RHP; .145 last 30 days; 115 games in the OF with 3 errors; 7 OF assists; The expectations for Moniak have to be weighed against expectations for the #1 overall pick in the draft (as he was), and with that said, it was a pretty ugly year.  There were signs of his true talent which would appear and then disappear for prolonged periods.  The “its a long season” adage was trumpeted by those in the organization over and over again in protecting Moniak, who was playing full season ball for the first time professionally.  That said, he was held out of 30 games for a variety of reasons, including rest.  Moniak hit just .201 after the all star break, striking out 24% of the time.  His work against lefties was miserable.  Lets hope the early season Moniak gets extended into July, August and further next season; Grade: D; 2018: Lakewood

David Martinelli, 22, Phils 6th round pick in 2016; .205/.258/.328 in 302AB; 6HR 26RBI; 4SB; 7%BB/28%K; .197 vs LHP; .207 vs RHP; .132 last 30 days; 90 games in the OF with 1 error; 5 OF assists; Little production from Martinelli who struggled equally against all forms of pitching.  His high draft status may keep him around for one more year but he is on the fence.  Grade: D Continue reading Report Card, Outfield–GCL, WIlliamsprt and Lakewood →

Lehigh Valley

Scott Kingery, Phils 2nd round pick in 2015; .304/.359/.530 in 543AB between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 26HR 65RBI; 29SB;7%BB/19%K; .290 last 30 days; For Lehigh Valley: .294/.337/.439 in 265AB; 8HR 21RBI; 10SB; .269 vs LHP; .300 vs RHP; 125 games at 2B with 11 errors (.980); 4 games at 3B without an error; 2 games at SS without an error; Outstanding season and progress for Kingery who looks to be the Phillies second baseman to be for the next decade.  Grade: A; 2018: Lehigh Valley until June, then Phillies

Jesmuel Valentin, 23, Acquired from Dodgers in 2014; .229/.282/.292 in 96AB; 1HR 7RBI; 6%BB/16%K; .310 vs LHP; .167 vs RHP; 26 games at 2B with 2 errors (.969); 2 games at SS with 1 error; Valentin came real close to making the Phils out of SPring Training in April and then struggled when he didn’t, his season ultimately ending in injury mid May; Grade: C-; 2018: I expect him in Lehigh Valley with a debut with the Phils at some point next season

Pedro Florimon, 30, Signed as a free agent in 2017; .265/.347/.410 in 310AB with Lehigh Valley; 10HR 33RBI; 4SB; 10%BB/27%K; 33 games at 2B with 1 error (.989); 26 games at 3B with 2 errors (.966); 15 games at SS with 1 error (.980); 14 games in the OF with 1 error (.960); In 48AB with Phils, Florimon hit .348.  I hardly expected to become a big “Pedro Florimon fan” this season but that is what happened.  Florimon has the ability to play numerous positions and do it at a level where you will not be hurt defensively.  That skill set got him called up to Philly where he was being touted as a potential 2018 super utility player before his season ended with a gruesome injury.  He had a very good year being asked to do a little bit of everything.  Grade: B+; 2018: It all depends on his ability to bounce back from the ugly ankle injury.  Currently on the 40 man, if healthy, he will compete for Andres Blanco’s former role.

Angelo Mora, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2011; .291./334/.435 in 398AB between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 9HR 55RBI; 5SB; 6%BB/19%K; For LV: .280/.291/.330 in 100AB; 25 games at SS with 4 errors (.966); 24 games at 3B with 3 errors (.952); 47 games at 2B with 8 errors (.964); 4 games in the OF without an error; Mora did a real nice job this year with the bat and continued to be steady in the field at multiple positions.  Unfortuantely, I think I am more of a Mora fan than the Phils organization and I really doubt he ends up on the 40 man, leading to minor league free agency for Mora.  Grade: B

JP Crawford, 22, Phils 1st round pick in 2013; .243/.351/.405 in 474AB; 15HR 63RBI; 5/9SB; .250 vs LHP; .286 vs RHP; .278 last 30 days w/ LV; 14%BB/17%K rate; 113 games at SS with 17 errors (.960); 6 games at 3B without an error; 5 games at 2B without an error; Hitting .278 for the Phils in 36AB; Crawford’s way down then up season has been very well documented.  Looking at his season in its entirety, there was progress but not as much as I expected; The bright side saw his power substantially more than expectations, although not sure that will translate to MLB; His average was fairly significantly lower on the year than hoped but, more importantly his OBP was excellent and Crawford was among league leaders in runs because of his OBP.  Still a plus fielder but a small notch below my expectations this season.  Grade: C; 2018: I see him in Philly fulltime come June

Reading

Drew Stankiewicz, 24, Phils 11th round pick in 2014; .280/.364/.421 in 328AB between Clearwater and Reading; 9HR 35RBI; 3SB; 11%BB/19%K; .297 last 30 days; 81 games at 2B with 9 errors (.975); 14 games at 3B with 2 errors (.900); 3 games at SS with 3 errors; A good season for Stankiewicz who does a lot of things right, leading to lineup opportunities for him.  Grade: B; 2018: Reading

Derek Campbell, 26, Phils 20th round pick in 2014; .250/.308/.359 in 159AB between Clearwater and Reading; 3HR 13RBI; 6%BB/22%K; Hit .162 for Reading in 37 late season AB; 8 games in the OF without an error; 21 games at 3B with 2 errors (.941); 15 games at 2B with 2 errors; Campbell spent large portions of the season injured and was mostly a spare piece when healthy; Grade: C-; 2018: Elsewhere Continue reading Report Card–Middle Infield →