The Phillies have acquired the final piece to the trade that sent World Champion catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Los Angeles Dodgers last month
It has been a couple of weeks since Chooch was traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers, although it’s felt like an eternity.
The trade sent Ruiz to Los Angeles to provide post-season experience behind the plate in exchange for catcher A.J. Ellis, right-hander Tommy Bergjans, and a player to be named later.
Thursday afternoon, the Phillies announced they selected outfielder Joey Curletta from the Dodgers organization to be the final piece in the Ruiz deal.
Joey Curletta is the PTBNL going to the Phillies in the Carlos Ruiz/A.J. Ellis trade. Outfielder had an OPS of .786 at Tulsa/Rancho this yr.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) September 15, 2016
Curletta was the Dodgers sixth round pick in 2012 out of Mountain Pointe HS in Arizona. Mountain Pointe HS is the same school where Los Angeles Angels slugger C.J. Cron studied.
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A right-handed outfielder, Curletta has some pop in his bat that is looking to translate to the next level. Curletta spent two seasons in rookie ball, and has bounced between Single and High-A ball.
After being drafted in 2012, Curletta was listed as the Dodgers #30 prospect, but has since fallen off that list. Baseball America called him a “physical monster” at 6’4 with raw power and a strong arm in right field.
The 22-year-old played 77 games in High-A ball (equivalent to the Clearwater Threshers) and 29 games in Double-A. In High-A ball he hit .267 with 13 home runs, five triples, and 13 doubles.
Since being promoted to Double-A, Curletta is hitting just .206 with four home runs in 29 games.
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In 2016 between two levels, he hit .251 with 17 home runs. He struck out 124 times and walked 37. With a 30% strikeout rate, there’s still a lot left to be desired with his pitch recognition and plate discipline.
Curletta could start 2017 with the Reading Phillies, who are projected to lose several of their best players to either Lehigh Valley or Philadelphia.