That Balls Outta Here » justin de fratus

Justin De Fratus Back in Action Just in Time for Next Thing to Happen

Justin Klugh — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:44:47 +0000

Welcome back, here's your Hello Kitty backpack. Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Phillies “closer of the future” Justin De Fratus is off the disabled list, and his timing couldn’t be later!

Justin served a 60-day sentence amongst the wounded, and will be up to his old tricks in Lehigh Valley. Or probably Philadelphia, if he’s technically alive in a few weeks, or at least still warm enough to be out on the mound without raising any eyebrows.

The crapshoot of bullpen fuck-ups is seemingly beyond repair, if even the $50 million man is costing us sweeps, but there does not seem to be a shortage of warm bodies to drag out to the mound, leave there, and watch the other team burn through.

De Fratus, however, is young, and verile, and not destroyed psychologically by innings of seemingly endless failure. He’s talented–the number seven prospect in our system–and he’s in that fun gray area where the Phillies have to decide if he’s good enough in Triple-A to develop into a Major Leaguer or good enough in Triple-A to play in Triple-A.

It is exciting to see some organically grown talent back in action, especially at a time when, oh man; there has just been a wealth of shut down pitchers coming out of the bullpen. I just wish some of them were wearing Phillies uniforms.

Anyways, Justin’s so excited, he’s turned Italian.

Joining the Pigs today. So happy to be back a pitching!

— Justin De Fratus (@JustinDeFratus) July 18, 2012

Tuesday’s Top Prospects Round-up

John Stolnis — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:40 +0000

As you know, every Tuesday I’ll be updating you on the progress of the Phils’ Top 10 prospects… how they’re hitting, how they’re pitching, are they choking, are they excelling… blah, blah, blah.

And while we wait for Spring Training to officially get underway, various publications are still publishing their “Top Prospects” lists for the various teams.

This week, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo shared his list of the Top 20 Phillies’ prospects for 2012. Here’s a brief recap…

1. Trevor May, RHP – Of course, May is the consensus #1 prospect in the Phils’ organization, and that is no different on Mayo’s list here.

2. Jesse Biddle, LHP – And like on every other list, Biddle is ranked as the #2 prospect in the organization. Both players should start the season in Reading this year.

(more…)

Ruben Amaro Begins Offseason by Crushing Young Man’s Dreams

Justin Klugh — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:28:49 +0000

So often, we forget that “young” and “talented” aren’t necessarily linked. Many times, the disappointing and often confused head shakes of my little league coaches indicated that despite my youthful age, raw talent and most motor skills were completely absent.

The Phillies current bullpen has the youth, but whether or not we’ve tapped the full potential of their skill remains to be seen. Nevertheless, we can’t let that stop us from assuming they will be the champions of the future. (more…)