Rule 5 picks rarely turn out and the Phillies last pick is already working himself out-of-town
Upon learning he would not make the Phillies 25 man roster Tyler Goeddel faced the media in front of his locker in Clearwater with disdain on his face as he uttered his new home.
“Reading.”
Goeddel understood the fact that top prospects Dylan Cozens, Roman Quinn, and Nick Williams had the starting jobs in Triple-A Lehigh Valley locked up, but going all the way down to Double-A shocked the 24-year-old.
“I’m not too happy about that,” said the former Rays first-round pick, whom the Phillies made the first overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft last year. Reading is “where the most openings are” for everyday at-bats for Goeddel, or so whoever informed him of the decision apparently told him.
“I know I can play in the big leagues, but I have to take care of business down there.”
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Immaturity really began to show in Goeddel during his meeting with the press on Satruday, often citing “they” and “them” presumably the coaching staff and front office executives. Goeddel appeared to take a swipe at manager Pete Mackanin, who neglected to play the outfielder late in the season.
“They really hadn’t told me anything,” prior to Saturday said Goeddel at his locker when looking back at his sub par rookie year and spring training. “When you know you’re in (the lineup) every day it’s a little different mindset coming to the field”
That statement really screamed immaturity for a guy who got a jump-start to his professional career through the draft and Rule 5 process. Not coming to the ballpark with the correct mindset is something the coaching staff must engrave in Goeddel’s head if he wishes to be successful not just in Philadelphia, but in professional baseball.
When asked if he would remain on the 40-man roster, Goeddel gave another smart aleck comment that could certainly rub people the wrong way based on how he said it.
“They didn’t mention it, so we’ll see.”
Again, Goeddel appears to be placing his struggles on the coaches not playing him or giving him an opportunity.
Someone might have to remind Goeddel that he hit .196 last year, and has done nothing to earn an opportunity to play in the major leagues.
Yes, he did hit .288 in 22 starts during the month of May, but followed up with a horrendous month of June where he got nearly equal playing time.
Last year when facing a count with two strikes Goeddel hit a measly .111 in 90 at bats with 46 strikeouts. He hit .180 with runners in scoring position, and a putrid .221 with men on base.
In 30 plate appearances with two outs and runners in scoring position, he presented a .107 average.
Power can not even be a favorable stat for Goeddel, who hit three of his four home runs in the friendly confines of The Bank.
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Goeddel simply does not deserve a major league job, or even a spot on the 40-man roster where real prospects need to be protected from the waiver wire. He needs to get himself straightened out down in Reading, or else his smart aleck, hate the face attitude will be playing in the Independent League or Japan in the far too far future.