Category Archives: 8. Arizona Fall League

Seven Phillies Prospects Attending 2015 AFL

8. Arizona Fall League

The Phillies have announced the organization’s participants in the Arizona Fall League for 2015.

  • J.P. Crawford
  • Andrew Knapp
  • Dylan Cozens
  • Tom Windle
  • Nick Pivetta
  • Edubray Ramos
  • Yacksel Rios

The players will be part of the Glendale Desert Dogs.  The team will be made up of prospects from five teams.  The other four teams are the Astros, Dodgers, Pirates, and White Sox.  Todd Zolecki reported this story earlier today.

Lakewood’s Nelson Prada is attending as the hitting coach.  The Desert Dogs full roster is listed here.

The eligibility rules to play in the AFL are listed below.

The roster size is 30 players per team.

Each Major League organization is required to provide six players subject to the following requirements:

  • All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1.
  • One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team. (editor’s note: I believe this was expanded to two players last year.  That would explain why Rios and Cozens can both be attend as “below AA players on August 1st.)
  • One foreign player is allowed, as long as the player does not reside in a country that participates in winter ball, as part of the Caribbean Confederation or the Australian winter league.
  • No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.
  • To be eligible, players on Minor League disabled lists must be activated at least 45 days before the conclusion of their respective seasons.

AFL – Roman Quinn

8. Arizona Fall League

Roman Quinn was drafted in the second round in 2011 out of Port St. Joe HS in Port St. Joe, FL. The multi-sport athlete signed over-slot on August 15, 2011 and began his pro career the following summer in Williamsport. A right-handed hitting centerfielder in high school who had begun learning to switch hit in his senior year, Quinn continued the conversion at the plate while learning to play shortstop as a professional.

Quinn played well enough in 2012 to warrant a promotion to full season A ball in Lakewood at the start of the 2013 season. He missed the second half of the season when he broke his wrist. While recuperating in the off season, Quinn suffered an Achilles injury that caused him to miss 6 weeks of the 2014 season with Clearwater. When he returned, he still retained the speed that had him rated the fastest player in Baseball America’s top 200 in the 2011 draft.

The rapid progress of the Phillies’ #16 pick in the 2013 draft, J.P. Crawford, forced the Phillies to make a decision that would enable them to get both players on the field at the same time. As a result, Quinn returned to his natural position, center field, when Crawford was promoted to Clearwater in mid-June. Continue reading AFL – Roman Quinn →

AFL – Logan Moore

8. Arizona Fall League

Logan Moore was a 9th round JUCO pick in 2011 out of Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. He worked his way through the organization and split time between Clearwater and Reading during the 2014 regular season. I watched him make the FSL All Star team in 2013 with a sub .200 batting average on the strength of his over 40% rate of throwing out would be base stealers. He finished that season with a .185 BA and a 41.2% CS rate. Moore’s offense increased in 2014 and he was sent up to Reading when a spat of catcher injuries hit the organization. After a 4 game stint at the end of April at AA, he returned to Clearwater until he was promoted for good at the end of May. Moore’s passed balls and errors declined but so did his CS rate. His 2014 numbers – Continue reading AFL – Logan Moore →

AFL – Ethan Stewart

8. Arizona Fall League

Ethan Stewart was a 47th round JUCO pick in 2010 out of New Mexico Junior College. This past season was his second full year in Clearwater.  He improved on the numbers he had posted during the 2013 season. However, though improved, his walk rate probably led to the organization’s decision to convert him to a reliever after 16 starts. His 2014 numbers –

  •                G       IP       H     R   ER  HR HB  BB  K    Avg.  WHIP  G/A    ERA   K/9    BB/9   K/BB
  • Start   16    81.2     89    5   44    9      1   53  46  .284   1.74    0.98   4.85   5.10    5.84    0.87
  • Relief  12    21.0     28  11  11    0      0     5  24   .311   1.57    1.11   4.71 10.29  2.14   4.80
  • Total   28  102.2  117  66  55    9      1   58  70  .290   1.70    1.00   4.82   6.14    5.08    1.21

The stats that jump out are the big increase in his K/9 and the big decrease in his BB/9. Even though opponents batting average jumped 27 points to .311, his WHIP saw a 17 point decrease. I watched 10 of Stewart’s starts. It was frustrating to watch him struggle with the strike zone. He pitched better out of the bullpen, but like a lot of the Threshers’ relievers he struggled coming into games with runners on base. He allowed 6 of 11 inherited runners to score for a mere 45.5% Strand Rate. Continue reading AFL – Ethan Stewart →

AFL – Ryan O’Sullivan

8. Arizona Fall League

Ryan O’Sullivan was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 16, 2012 as the PTBNL to complete the August 3rd trade of Joe Blanton to the Dodgers. He pitched effectively in a relief role for the Clearwater Threshers in 2013. I have to admit he was one of my favorite pitchers that year, I bid on and won his “game-worn” autographed jersey on Testicular Cancer Awareness Night. He pitched well enough to start the 2014 season with the Reading Fightin’ Phils. He was used in a variety of roles in Reading. He made 37 appearances – 12 as a starter and twice in failed save opportunities. He compiled a 7-8 record on a team that finished in last place with a 66-76 record and 22 games back. His regular season numbers at Reading were – Continue reading AFL – Ryan O’Sullivan →

AFL – Nefi Ogando

8. Arizona Fall League

Nefi Ogando was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for John McDonald in a trade on August 31, 2013. I remember watching him in the Instructional League that fall. He appeared to have a superior fastball. And although he kept it down in the strike zone, it looked to be straight as an arrow. During 2014, he pitched in relief for Reading all season. And in spite of a somewhat poor season, he was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League. His regular season numbers were –

  •           G      IP       H     R     ER   HR  HB   BB    K      Avg.    WHIP    GO/AO    W    L    SV    SVO
  • AA    48   56.0    64   41    39     6      6     28    57   .291      1.64         1.68        5    1      7      11

His 48 appearances and 57 strike outs were career highs. He posted a 9.16 K/9. However, he also posted career worsts with .291 opponents’ batting average and 1.64 WHIP. He also allowed 4.50 BB/9 and 2.04 K/BB.

Ogando responded with a strong showing in Arizona. He made 12 appearances and allowed runs in only 4 of them. He recorded 1 win and converted 3 of 4 save opportunities. His AFL numbers – Continue reading AFL – Nefi Ogando →

AFL – Colton Murray

8. Arizona Fall League

Colton Murray was selected to participate in the Arizona Fall League based on his good 2014 season. Murray began the season in Clearwater and pitched well enough in relief to warrant a promotion to Reading after 11 appearances. His 2014 numbers were –

  •           G     IP       H     R    ER    HR    HB    BB    K    Avg.    WHIP    GO/AO    W    L    SV    SVO
  • A+    11   17.2   16    4      4       0        0       8     17   .242     1.36         0.62       2     2     2        3
  • AA    36   59.0   39  22   15       5        2     22    60   .188     1.03         1.00       1     5     6      10
  • Tot. 47   76.2   55  26   19       5        2     30    77   .201     1.11         0.90       3     7     8      13

His 47 appearances tied his professional high. His 76.2 innings pitched represented a career high. His 77 strike outs, .201 opponents batting average, and 1.11 WHIP were career bests.  He had a 9.04 K/9 but a 3.52 BB/9 that contributed to a 2.57 K/BB.

Murray produced unevenly in the fall league. He allowed runs in 4 of his 11 appearances, taking a loss in two of those four games. He pitched 6 hitless outings in his 7 other appearances, and recorded 3 Holds. His AFL stats – Continue reading AFL – Colton Murray →

AFL – Adam Morgan

8. Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League came to an end yesterday. A one-game playoff will be held on Saturday without the participation of the Scottsdale Scorpions (and the 7 Phillies on the roster). The Scorpions finished in third place in the East Division with a 12-20 record.

Prospect Adam Morgan returned to action in the AFL.  A shoulder injury had sidelined him for the entire 2014 regular season. He threw some during the FIL and subsequently made 6 appearances in Arizona, 5 starts. He recorded a 1-2 record and put together the following resume – Continue reading AFL – Adam Morgan →

Prospects’ Fall and Winter Stats

8. Arizona Fall League, 9. Winter Leagues

The Arizona Fall, Venezuelan Winter, and Mexican Pacific leagues have all begun.

The Dominican Winter League starts on October 17th.

The Puerto Rican League starts on October 30th, as does the Australian Baseball League.  Williamsport pitcher, Josh Warner is on the reserve list for the Brisbane Bandits.  Tim Kennelly is on the Pert Heat with two brothers .  Remember Tim?  I think the Phillies tried his bat at all 8 positions before taking a look at his 95 mph arm.  He was  released in 2013.

The Caribbean Series runs February 2-8, 2015.  Last year, Sebastian Valle hit a grand slam in the championship game and former Phillies’ “prospect” Chris Roberson (2001, 9th round) was voted MVP of the series.

This link will take you to the stats of Phillies’ organization players playing ball during the off season.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=phi

Scorpions Win AFL Opener; 10/8/2014

8. Arizona Fall League, , ,

The Scottsdale Scorpions beat the Salt River Rafters 7-4 in the Arizona Fall League opener for both teams last night.  Three Phillies’ prospects saw action – Roman Quinn, Colton Murray, and Nefi Ogando.

Roman Quinn started in centerfield and recorded 2 put outs.  He led off for the Scorpions and finished with 1 hit in 5 at bats.  Continue reading Scorpions Win AFL Opener; 10/8/2014 →