With the Reading Fightin’ Phillies out of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies have called-up two of their top offensive prospects to the major leagues
Just as we predicted last night here at TBOH, the Phillies have called up two prospects who could be major pieces to the future of the club.
Reading has been eliminated from the playoffs. I'd expect Jorge Alfaro and possibly Roman Quinn to be in Philadelphia in the near future
— PHILLIES TBOH (@FS_TBOH) September 11, 2016
Early Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Phillies announced on Twitter that catcher Jorge Alfaro and outfielder Roman Quinn would join the big club.
Jorge Alfaro is the Phillies top catching prospect, and a key piece in the Cole Hamels trade last offseason with the Texas Rangers.
After battling injuries, Alfaro has been an offensive catalyst in Reading. Alfaro finished the season with a .285 batting average, with 15 home runs and 21 doubles.
Plate discipline is still a concern with Alfaro, as he’s struck out 105 times and only walked 22. Defensively Alfaro had just six errors, and caught an impressive 33 baserunners stealing.
Veteran catcher A.J. Ellis will certainly work with Alfaro to improve his ability to call a game, and Alfaro could get a couple of starts as the season winds down.
Roman Quinn was once among the Phillies top prospects as a shortstop, but injuries have hampered his young career. Now playing primarily in center field, Quinn has flashed a good bat and speed on the basepads.
This season he hit .302 with 16 doubles, six triples, six home runs, and a career-high 36 stolen bases.
Quinn could also get a look in center field over Aaron Altherr, who is hitting .190 over the last month and .067 in the past week. There is also a possibility the young speedster sees time in left field, a position he’s seldom played.
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Alfaro and Quinn are expected to be the last of the Phillies major prospects to be called up this season. J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens, and Andrew Knapp are not expected to join the team this year, but will get a look in spring training.
Ben Lively and Nick Pivetta could each make a start, pending a corresponding move to the 40-man roster.