TBOH Phillies Top 10 Prospects

TBOH 2015 Phillies #3 Prospect – Zach Eflin

3 – ZACH EFLIN, RHP

Zach Eflin was the San Diego Padres 1st Round pick at 33rd overall in the 2012 MLB Draft out of a Florida high school. He was part of the package that the Dodgers received in December in the Matt Kemp trade, and then was flipped to the Phillies in the Jimmy Rollins trade. After having his first pro summer slowed by a bout with mononucleosis, Eflin came out strong in 2013 and 2014, making 45 starts in his first two full seasons. He’ll turn 21 just as the 2015 season opens and is likely to be yet another big Phils prospect arm at AA Reading. He has a big fastball and a well-developed curve in his repertoire, and has been reportedly doing nicely in developing his changeup. Right now he is at least projectable as a 3-4 option in a future Phillies rotation. Improving that change could make him a legitimate #2 starter in the big leagues. Still young with development ahead of him, Eflin was a nice pickup in the Rollins trade who could be in the Phils rotation for years after JRoll retires. Continued health and progress puts him on track for a 2016 debut at latest.