Fortunes can change in a hurry in minor league baseball, the latest example being the case of P Austin Hyatt, who was released today by the Phils according to Jeff Schuler, the IronPigs beat reporter for the Morning Call.  Hyatt was considered to be a prospect to watch coming into the 2012 season after going 12-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 28 starts for Reading in 2011.

Hyatt’s 2012 was consistently miserable. He went 2-7 with a 6.33 ERA in 11 starts  in Lehigh Valley, with a WHIP over 1.63. He wasn’t a whole heck of alot better for Reading in his 16 starts, going 8-5 with a 4.62 ERA.  In several Lehigh Valley starts I witnessed, Hyatt struggled with his control, running many deep counts and was quite simply, very hittable.

Hyatt, 26, was the Phils 15th round pick out of the University of Alabama in 2009.  His release may actually be a favor to him, as with the glut of young starters the Phils have in Lehigh Valley and Reading, Hyatt may have struggled to get starts. In any event, it looks more and more like the Lehigh Valley rotation will be Pettibone, Morgan, Martin, Cloyd and Cochran, which will be an exciting rotation to watch for those who frequent Coca Cola Park.

If you were watching or listening to yesterday’s game you may have been surprised by the pitcher on the mound in the 8th and 9th inning for the Phillies.  Brandon Erbe is another is a line of former Orioles that Joe Jordan has brought over to the Phillies.  Erbe on the surface appears to be roster filler, but he is a former top starting pitching prospect who is still young enough (25) to be impactful out of a bullpen.

How We Got Here:

Erbe was a 3rd round pick in 2005 out of high school by the Orioles.  He had an ok debut in 2005 but broke out in 2006.  At age 18 in low-A Erbe put up a 3.22 ERA, 47BB, 133 K line in only 114.2 IP (10.44 K/9 at age 18 in lo-A).  He was then rated the #2 propsect in the Orioles system and the #78 player in baseball.  Erbe had a mid-90s fastball, a plus slider, and an improving change up.  Starting in 2007 it went downhill as Erbe battled control and injury problems (still put up a 2.99 BB/9, 9.02 K/9 line in 2008 at age 20 in hi-A over 150.2 IP).  Injuries have really derailed his career and he hasn’t pitched much the last two years.  Erbe’s starting career at this point is over, but the Phillies still signed him to a minor league contract when he hit minor league free agency this year. Continue reading Prospect Spotlight: Brandon Erbe →

Although I haven’t been to the sunshine state at all this March, thanks to posters here and, especially, Greg Giombarrese at BlueClaws blog, we’ve basically been able to follow Roman Quinn for the entire spring.  Each day he’s given us a report that includes Quinn, a prospect everyone in Lakewood is excited to watch play.  Let’s review day-by-day after the break…

Continue reading Roman Quinn’s interesting spring →

These were originally posted by Jay Floyd of PhoulBallz

Groups 1-3 and Groups 4 & 5

Thoughts:

– These are almost the final rosters (so the following comments may end up wrong) Continue reading Final Workout Groups – March 25 →

It is always fun to look at top tools because they are often the most exciting and awe inspiring part of a game.  Sometimes we lose perspective as to what top major league tools look like in comparison to minor leaguers.  The call on best tools in the minor leagues are often close so I have included honorable mentions.

Hitters

Speed:

Minor League: Quinn (80) – Much has been written on Quinn’s speed which is a legitimate 80 grade tool.  Honorable Mentions: Tocci, Gillies, Hudson

Major League: Revere (70) – A couple of years ago this might have been Jimmy Rollins, but Revere has near elite speed that he uses well in both the field and on the base paths. Continue reading Organizational Best Tools →

The Phillies sent Rodriguez to Baltimore it what is essentially org depth for org depth.

Julio Rodriguez broke out in 2010 when he jumped to Lakewood at age 19 and posted a 14.38 K/9 over 50+ IP, and joined May, Colvin, Pettibone, and Cosart as the “Baby Aces”.  JRod’s fastball tops out around 90 but mostly sits in the hi-80’s, he compliments it with mid-80s cutter, a fringe average changeup, and a big loopy mid-60s curveball.  Going into AA in 2012, JRod had to prove the stuff was for real and that he could possibly get some more velocity out of his big frame.  He continued to miss bats but he was hit hard and walked batters at 5BB/9IP.  He might have some success out of a bullpen but he is somewhere between org depth and 6th starter and is only 22. Continue reading Phillies trade RHP Julio Rodriguez to the Orioles for OF Ronnie Welty →

Yeah, I’ll give it a go. Good a place as any to discuss it:

Starters – Cole, Roy, Cliff, KK and Lannan (Cloyd #6 in AAA, at least until June or so when Pettibone could overtake him – Cook and Lopez start in AAA with Cook #7 for now – both are emergency/expendible guys if they need one start before Pettibone is ready).

Relievers – Pap, Adams, Bastardo, Valdes, Durbin, Aumont, Stutes (Horst to AAA, tough luck for him)

Catchers – Kratz, Quintero, (Ruiz is suspended, and Valle is the emergency guy IMO for the first 25 days – not going to start the clock on Joseph, and they don’t have a roster spot to burn once they add Quintero, unless they waive someone like Robles or Savery)

Infield – RyHo, Chase, JRoll, MYoung, Frandsen, Yuni (if they can’t move him and find him a 40-man roster spot, [Robles/Savery again], Galvis if they can move him)

Outfielders – Dom, Revere, Mayberry, Nix, Inciarte (Jermaine Mitchell just isn’t quite enough and Pete Orr is Pete Orr)

DL – Delmon

What say all of you?

Clearing up part of the debate, the Phils have optioned relief pitchers Justin DeFratus and Jake Diekman to the minors.  Both should anchor the back end of the Lehigh Valley bullpen. In other roster moves, INF Josh Fields and RP Cesar Jiminez were re-assigned to minor league camp.  The battle for the last two spots in the bullpen has three pitchers currently attached to it (Valdes, Horst and Cook).

35 players remain in major league camp, with two weeks until opening day.

Over at minor league camp, 1B Chris Duffy and OF Gauntlett Eldemire were released by the Phils today. Duffy, 25, was the Phils 26th round pick in the 2010 draft out of the University of Central FLorida.  A bit more surprising, but not unexpected was that the Phils gave up on ELdemire, their 6th round pick in the 2010 draft. Eldemire simply could not stay on the field, as the often injured outfielder hit .227 for Lakewood in just over 200 AB’s in 2010. The speedy OF did have 18 stolen bases was a one dimensional player, whose dimension was taken away by injury.

Finally, relief pitcher Mike Cisco was threw for both Reading and Lehigh Valley over the past two years was traded to Angels for nothing. Cisco, who is soon to be 26, was the Phils 36th round pick in the 2008 draft and blocked by at least a half dozen relievers ahead of him in the Phils organization.

Time to take another shot at roster projections with two weeks to go until the close of Spring Training.  I made two changes at the major league level and have now included some early thoughts on the Lehigh Valley roster.

Phils

Pitchers: (12); Hamels, Lee, Halladay, Kendrick, Lannan, Papelbon, Adams, Durbin, Bastardo, Aumont, Cook, Valdes.  Cook’s roster spot may be solidifying as starters struggle during the Spring. The Phils need someone who can throw 3-4 innings if necessary.  Valdes, Horst and Diekman are in the race for the last bullpen spot.  Valdes has been very impressive as of late, walking one and striking out 16 this Spring.

Catchers: Kratz, Quintero.  Ruiz suspended for 25 games. Continue reading Roster Projections →

This is the time period where those at the mid to lower levels of the minors begin to get nervous that their time has come, and that news was broken to two today.

Matt Sisto, 23, was the Phils 20th round pick in the 2012 draft.  He was advised today he was released.  The big RHP out of University of Hawaii pitched in Williamsport last year,  going 1-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 24 games.

UCLA product Garrett Claypool was also released today. CLaypool, 24, was the Phils 10th round draft pick in 2010, and after some promising outings in 2011, had his 2012 mired with injury going 3-2 with a 7.30 ERA for Clearwater.

In other news, 2B Cesar Hernandez and P Justin Friend were reassigned to minor league camp, leaving 39 players currently still in major league camp.