Phillies: Predicting Top 10 Prospects’ Call-up Dates
A new era of Philadelphia Phillies baseball is on the horizon. The majority of their top prospects have been producing extremely well in both Reading and Lehigh Valley, creating pressure on the organization to call them up in the near future.
We’ll take a look at the Phillies top 10 prospects according to MLB.com, and predict when they will be called up. We’ll also throw in some names not in the organization’s top 10 who could be playing in Citizens Bank Park fairly soon.
Next: Jake Thompson
Jake Thompson: August 1st
Jake Thompson will fill-in Jeremy Hellickson’s spot in the starting rotation, and never look back. The Phillies top pitching prospect was acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, and has been lights out over his past 10 starts for Lehigh Valley.
In his last 10 starts, he has a 6-1 record with a 1.36 ERA. He will join Vince Velasquez and Aaron Nola as the sure-fire starters of the future, and create a legitimate top three rotation.
With his scheduled lined up with Hellickson, the arrival date is all but set. The second Hellickson is shipped off within the next two weeks, Jake Thompson will be a major league pitcher.
Next: Nick Williams
Nick Williams: August 12
Originally, I was advocating for Williams to stay in Triple-A for the remainder of the season, and get called up next spring. The buzz around him however has forced his arrival date up a couple of months, especially with Peter Bourjos being a trade chip.
Williams is hitting an impressive .310 over his last 10 games. His strikeouts and hustle are a concern, but Pete MacKanin and Larry Bowa have worked with players such as Odubel Herrera and helped make adjustments.
I expect Bourjos to be traded during the August waiver period, resulting in Williams getting a few more weeks in the minors before his promotion.
Next: Andrew Knapp
Andrew Knapp: August 14
Andrew Knapp’s call-up will be more for necessity than his ability to play everyday at the major league level. Similar to Nick Williams, Knapp will be called-up to replace either Cameron Rupp or Carlos Ruiz after a waiver period trade.
Knapp is the one prospect I am least optimistic about, considering he started last season in Single-A Clearwater, and has a .270 batting average this season. That .270 average is frightening, especially since he has been hot over the past couple of weeks. He hit .221 in May, but has exploded as the weather has warmed up. He’s hit .325 over his past 10 starts in Lehigh Valley.
He will surely get his chance to prove himself, but his promotion will result in a mixed bag of production.
Next: J.P. Crawford
J.P. Crawford: September 1st
When the major league rosters expand in September, the J.P. Crawford era will officially begin. The Phillies top prospect gets the chance to prove himself, with a slow start to be expected. In every level of competition, Crawford usually takes a couple of weeks to get adjusted before he feels comfortable.
Freddy Galvis’s days are numbered as a major league starter. Unless the Phillies want to try him at second to keep his glove on the field, his role as a bench player officially begins.
Next: Jorge Alfaro
Jorge Alfaro: May 14, 2017
A slow offensive start to the major league season will result in one of the organizations’ top power hitters being called up. Depending on how this trade deadline shakes up for Rupp and Ruiz, Knapp could potentially enter the 2017 season as the everyday starter behind the plate.
Injuries and a lack of offense will bring another one of the key Hamels trade cogs up to the majors to hit in the middle of the lineup everyday. After a spell on the disabled list early in the season, Alfaro has been a catalyst for the best team in professional baseball. He is hitting .316 over his last 10 games for Reading, and has 11 home runs.
If Alfaro can be a 20 home run hitter in the majors, the Phillies will be pleased.
Next: Mark Appel
Mark Appel: September 1, 2017
Barring any injuries, Mark Appel will arrive in Philadelphia next fall. The former first overall pick of the Houston Astros came over in the Velasquez trade, and had a lot of hype behind him. Injuries have shut him down this season, so more time in Lehigh Valley is needed.
While a mid-season promotion could also be in the cards for Appel, the Phillies will most likely keep him in the minors for the majority of the season. Trades and injuries at the major league level could change that, but I believe Appel spends nearly all of 2017 in Lehigh Valley as their ace.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
Roman Quinn: September 1, 2017
Similar to Appel, Roman Quinn won’t see the big leagues as a result of injuries. After hitting an astounding .405 in his last 10 games, Quinn suffered an oblique strain, and was placed on the disabled list.
Charlie Manuel loves Quinn’s bat, and says he can be a star if healthy. The Phillies could have a logjam of outfielders, so Quinn will be protected in the minors until rosters expand in September.
Next: Cornelius Randolph
Cornelius Randolph: Opening Day, 2019
The Phillies first round pick from 2015 is transitioning from shortstop to the outfield. At 19, he still has a long ways to go, and injuries have slowed down his development. After starting the 2016 season in Lakewood, Randolph has only played in 28 games.
By the age of 22, Randolph could potentially be ready to make his big league debut as a corner outfielder on opening day. Health will dictate a lot of his future, but he has the raw tools to make it to the big leagues.
Next: Franklyn Kilome
Franklyn Kilome: April, 2019
One of the lesser known prospects in the Phillies organization is Franklyn Kilome, a starter in Lakewood with an electric arm. He has 57 strikeouts 54 innings pitched, but the runs allowed will scare people away.
He will need a lot more time to develop, which is why we won’t see him until the first week of the 2019 season. If he can harness his potential, Kilome could be the next big arm to come out of the Phillies farm system after Thompson.
Next: Ricardo Pinto
Ricardo Pinto: June, 2019
Another less-known name in the Phillies top 10 prospects is Ricardo Pinto. He’s been in the Phillies system for years, starting in the Venezuelan league back in 2012. He was dominant at the lower-levels of the Phillies system, finishing with a sub-3.00 era every year.
Since being promoted to Reading, Pinto is looking to bring down his home runs allowed. He’s let 14 balls out of the park already this year, which won’t bode well in Citizens Bank Park. His 73 strikeouts are impressive, but he needs to keep the ball down to be successful.
Next: Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
These are players ranked outside of the Phillies top 10 prospects who will be making their big league debut in the near future, maybe even within the next month or two.
More from That Balls Outta Here
- 11 Free-agent deals the Philadelphia Phillies wish fell through
- Phillies-Mets owners’ rivalry grows after shocking Carlos Correa deal
- Could Rich Hill become ‘Jamie Moyer 2.0’ in Phillies rotation?
- Does Bailey Falter have a future in Phillies’ rotation?
- Prospect Andrew Baker could help Phillies bullpen in 2023
Dylan Cozens is a popular name in the system, but I’d like to see him start another season in Triple-A. Same goes for Rhys Hoskins. Both, barring injury, will be in Philadelphia by next summer.
Ben Lively – September, 2016
Dylan Cozens – May, 2017
Nick Pivetta – June, 2017
Rhys Hoskins – August, 2017
Thomas Eshelman – September 2017
Scott Kingery – June, 2018
Mickey Moniak – June, 2019