Phillies Prospects Projected to be Called Up in 2017
By John Town
2016 provided relatively few debuts from top prospects in the Phillies system. However, 2017 could see far more prospects reach the major-leagues.
Out of Baseball America’s Top 30 Phillies 2016 prospects, just five made their debut in 2016. Only three graduated in Zach Eflin, Jake Thompson, and Edubray Ramos. Out of the top ten, only Thompson graduated. While other top-ten prospects Jorge Alfaro and Roman Quinn debuted, they saw little playing time.
The lack of debuts in 2016 was a surprise considering how top-heavy the Phillies system is. Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s and Double-A Reading’s rosters were littered with top prospects to start the year. The hope was that more than just five would be on the major-league roster by the end of the season.
Even though 2016 saw relatively few debuts, 2017 could see far more. For starters, my TBOH No. 8 prospect Andrew Knapp should start the year as the backup catcher for the Phillies. Knapp didn’t match his insane Double-A numbers with the IronPigs, but he still posted an above-average 107 wRC+. With no backup catcher on the roster to Cameron Rupp, Knapp will likely become his backup to start the year.
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The one prospect everyone hoped to see in 2016 was shortstop J.P. Crawford. The consensus No. 1 prospect had a strong 2015 between High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading despite missing the first month of the season. Even though he played 86 games in Reading, the Phillies returned him there to start the year before a late May promotion to Triple-A.
Crawford had a poor overall stint with the IronPigs, prompting him to remain there.
In his first 28 games there, Crawford posted a .209/.302/.245 line. He came alive in July with a .794 OPS, but he fell back apart after the calendar turned to August with a .542 OPS. Considering his poor performance, it wasn’t worth adding him to the 40-man roster rather than protecting a Rule 5-eligible player this offseason.
Crawford will start the year back in Triple-A, hopefully performing better compared to this season. He was one of the youngest players in the International League at 21 years old this year. With more experience and hopefully a better performance, he should be on the major-league roster at some point in 2017.
Another top prospect who struggled at Lehigh Valley this year was outfielder Nick Williams. He posted his highest strikeout rate since 2014 while walking just 3.6% of the time. While Williams hit for some power with 13 home runs and a .427 slugging percentage, his .258 average and .287 OBP weren’t good at all.
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Williams also butted heads with Lehigh Valley’s manager Dave Brundage. Williams was benched multiple times for a lack of hustle. Brundage was fired after Lehigh Valley’s season ending, and Reading’s manager Dusty Wathan was promoted to fill the role. Wathan is generally considered a player’s manager, and the familiarity between Wathan and Williams could breed positive results. Williams and Crawford are both a strong start in 2017 away from the majors, and Wathan could help both of them.
Ben Lively was another surprise to not see in the major-leagues this season.
The Phillies named him the pitching prospect of the year after he carried a 2.67 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 29 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley. Lively, who is Rule 5-eligible this year, was rumored to be one of the possible replacements for Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin, and Vince Velasquez in the rotation. However, Nola and Eflin may not be ready to join the rotation to start the year, and Lively could replace them out of the gate or when an inevitable pitcher injury happens at some point during the season.
In addition, Reading’s pair of sluggers in Rhys Hoskins and Dylan Cozens could slug their way to the majors in 2017. After hitting 40 home runs in 2016, Cozens has the easier path to the pros considering how poor the Phillies outfield performed this year. While Hoskins is blocked by Tommy Joseph, Hoskins is a more sound hitter and should have an easier transition to Triple-A. If either prospect hits well in Triple-A, the team will find a spot on the roster for them.
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A pair of pitchers acquired in recent trades could also make their debuts in 2017. Nick Pivetta, who joined the Phillies in the Jonathan Papelbon trade, had a 3.27 ERA over 148.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Pivetta needs protection from the Rule 5 draft this year, making it easier to promote him should pitchers wind up on the disabled list. Mark Appel, acquired in the Ken Giles trade, struggled in Triple-A before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He also has to go on the 40-man roster this offseason and might be forced into action.