Phillies 2017 Season Player Preview: Cameron Rupp
Cameron Rupp had a productive 2016, but is it enough to stay with the Phillies?
Two years ago the future for the Phillies behind the plate was bleak at best. Carlos Ruiz was entering his mid-30’s and thanks to Ruben Amaro Jr. the catching depth in the organization was light.
Many catchers rolled through the Phillies organization with little success grasping a hold on the backup job long-term. The prospect that had his shot was Lou Marson, while veterans Chris Coste, Rod Barajas, Brian Schneider, Paul Hover, Dane Sardinha, Erik Kratz, Steven Lerud, Humberto Quintero, Wil Nieves, Koyie Hill, and A.J. Ellis filled the role at some point.
Cameron Rupp emerged in 2015 after looking to be purely a “Quadruple-A” player and assumed the starting job after Ruiz was traded to the Dodgers last summer.
Rupp has the potential to hit 20 home runs, drive in 80, and hit for around .250 entering one of the most important seasons of his young career. Prospects Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp are nipping on the heels of Rupp, who at the age of 28 has not finished a season with more than 450 at-bats.
Last summer at the trade deadline I believed Rupp would be a great trade chip for a team looking for some power heading into the playoffs. Rupp could still be that chip come July and August as injuries and inconsistencies catch up to other major league teams.
Philadelphia needs to find out what they have in Knapp and Alfaro before they can completely give up on Rupp. Perhaps the 28-year-old Rupp is the long-term answer as the backup catcher, which would be an upgrade over the Coste/Nieves of the world.
Should Rupp stay healthy and retain the starting job for the entire season I predict he’ll hit the 20 home run mark for the first time in his young career.