That Balls Outta Here
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Philadelphia Phillies 2018 top 20 prospects: Nos. 16-20

By John Town

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 3: A general view of the game between the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies on October 3, 2015 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 7-6. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 3: A general view of the game between the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies on October 3, 2015 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 7-6. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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No. 19: Second baseman Daniel Brito

The Phillies were not shy at all with their minor-league assignments this year as several players who played well in the Gulf Coast League in 2016 skipped short-season Williamsport and were sent right to Low-A Lakewood to start out the year. One of those players was 19-year-old Daniel Brito, who posted a .284/.355/.421 slash line in 47 GCL games the year before.

Through his first 26 games, Brito looked like he could handle the higher level of pitching he was facing. In that span, he posted a .333/.379/.454 line with seven extra-base hits.

However, that didn’t last as Brito struggled the rest of the year. He finished the season with a .239/.298/.318 line, winding up with a below-average 81 wRC+. Brito can’t be criticized too harshly as he was skipping a level on the minor-league ladder and it was his first full minor-league season. On the other hand, hitting is his main tool, so Brito needs to show he can hit at every level.

Brito still projects to have an above-average, if not plus, hit tool down the line. His power is unlikely to ever be at that level, but he won’t be a weak hitter, either. Defensively, he should be more than serviceable at second base, but his arm likely will limit him to that position.

Next year, Brito should get a chance to bounce back in Lakewood after a poor start to his career there. He will still be just 20 years old, so he still has time to develop.

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