Phillies Should Give Tyler Goeddel More Time
The Philadelphia Phillies have struggled since the MLB All-Star break, but a young outfielder has played well and may deserve more playing time.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been known for having strong outfielders over the last decade or so, including players such as Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Bobby Abreu, and Raul Ibanez.
Now the starting outfield consists of the club’s lone NL All-Star, second-year center fielder Odubel Herrera, journeyman right fielder Peter Bourjos, and organizational man Cody Ashe, who used to be the starter at 3rd base.
Not so much of a well-known outfield, and it certainly has room to improve in order to reach the heights of those recent-years groupings when the club was winning East Division crowns. Which is why I believe that their “extra” outfielder, rookie Tyler Goeddel, deserves to see more playing time.
This is Goeddel’s first major league season after being acquired by the Phillies last December as the top overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft, in which the Phils swept him away from the Tampa Bay Rays.
At just 23 years old, Goeddel has potential in every facet of his game. But he won’t be able to improve if he doesn’t get the chance to show what he has to offer.
Now some of this was known coming into the year. As a Rule 5 player, the Phillies had to keep him on the Major League roster all season, or lose him back to Tampa Bay. So it was the plan coming in that he would be the club’s 4th or 5th outfielder.
However, especially when receiving regular playing time in stints, Goeddel has shown that he can not only survive, but he can compete at this level.
He has played in 66 games so far this season, with a low batting average at the .211 mark. However, he has contributed 10 extra-base hits, 16 RBI, and four home runs with scattered playing time.
What has Asche done? Well, he has played in 45 games this season and has an average of .222 with just one more RBI than Goeddel.
Since the All-Star break, Asche has played in 10 games and has an average of .094, while Goeddel in that same time frame has played in just five games with a .250 average. Goeddel has played in fewer games, but is playing better defensively and hitting more consistently than Asche.
What about that defensive aspect? Asche may have fewer errors and a higher fielding percentage, but I believe it’s only because he has played in more games.
When you actually watch the games, Goeddel is far more athletic defensively. What Phillies fan paying attention this season will ever forget the strike that he threw to Cameron Rupp to end the game against Cincinnati back in May? And he cannot tighten up the few holes in his game while watching from the bench.
Again, some of this “watching from the bench” is what was expected. But also again, when given regular chances he has earned a more consistent look, especially considering the team’s rebuilding plans.
Maybe the Phillies are just trying to give opposing clubs more of a look at Bourjos and Asche in hopes of being able to flip one or both at the MLB non-waiver trade deadline. Maybe that is what it will take for Goeddel to get that longer look.
Goeddel appears to have what it takes to predict a long big league career ahead of him. He deserves to show the city of Philadelphia what he has to offer while he is here, before he gets swept away by the next wave of hot prospects without ever getting that real chance.