Phillies Prospect Report: New Bash Brother Emerges in Clearwater
Which Phillies prospects are on the rise and who is falling in the minors?
The crops have been soaking up a lot of water with all of the rain the Phillies have dealt with over the past week, so let’s check down on the farm and see how some of the Phillies prospects have performed lately.
Trending Up: Cole Irvin, LHP, Lehigh Valley
Cole Irvin had a great start to his professional career, speeding through the Phillies system, starting in Williamsport in 2016 and finishing 2017 in Reading. His 2018, as a surprise to some, started in Lehigh Valley.
As of May 12th, Irvin posted a 3.21 ERA and a 3-1 record in 7 starts for the Iron Pigs. Aside from two rough starts on April 20th and May 2nd in which he gave up 4 and 5 runs respectively, Irvin’s numbers would be even better.
In his last start on May 12th, Irvin tossed 7.0 innings, giving up no runs on 2 hits and striking out 8 Buffalo batters.
Irvin faces the same struggle that many of the other pitchers in the Phillies system face: a crowded rotation in Philadelphia. It doesn’t help Irvin that he is far from the first choice to get called up to the big club. With pitchers like Enyel De Los Santos and Tom Eshelman ahead of him, it is unlikely that Irvin will get the call anytime soon.
With all of that being said, Irvin is a 6’4 left-handed pitcher, which may help him get to the big leagues faster than some expect.
Trending Up: Darick Hall, 1B, Clearwater
“Hall Smash,” Darick Hall, probably. After breaking Lakewood’s home run record a year ago, Hall has kept up his power numbers in Clearwater. He is one of the best power-hitters in the Phillies system right now.
As of May 16th, Hall was hitting .274 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs in 37 games. Usually a power hitter’s on-base numbers are low and his strikeout numbers are high. That is not the case with Hall.
Coming into play on May 17th, Hall had struck out just 32 times in 135 at-bats and was posting a .353 OBP and an OPS of .901.
Hall has the chance to rise up through the system this summer. If he can find a way to keep his average up and keep mashing home runs, the buzz around Darick Hall will keep growing.
Trending Down: JoJo Romero, LHP, Reading
Coming off of a great 2017 season in which he was named the Phillies’ minor-league pitcher of the year, Romero has had a tough start in Reading in 2018.
As of May 17th, Romero was 0-4 with a 6.38 ERA in 7 starts. Command has been a problem for Romero. In each of his starts on May 9th and 14th, he walked 4 batters. The walks have led to high pitch counts which have led to short outings for the 21-year-old left-hander.
It is a tough adjustment going from A ball to AA ball. Romero is going through that this year, but his stuff that earned him the pitcher of the year award for the Phillies is still there.
It will take time and he is only 21, but his slow start in Reading is concerning.
Trending Down: Dylan Cozens, RF, Lehigh Valley
It has been a struggle for Dylan Cozens over the last year or so. Since he was separated from Rhys Hoskins, his numbers have declined.
As of May 16th, Cozens was hitting .242 with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs in 35 games. The power is still there, but the average is down and pitchers are less fearful to pitch to him. As a result, he has been striking out a lot.
Cozens has punched out 52 times 120 at-bats. He has 29 hits this year, so that means 52 of his 91 outs have come via the strike out. That’s not going to get Cozens to the big leagues.
He does keep a decent OBP at .336 thanks to 17 walks, but overall, he has struggled mightily at the plate.
Next: 3 Phillies who could make the All-Star team
He will have to learn to hit without the protection of a Rhys Hoskins in the lineup in order to prove to the organization that he is ready to contribute to the Phillies.