Phillies Prospect Report: Cole Irvin rising in the organization
By Josh Starr
We’re past the midway point of the Phillies season and it’s becoming clear which prospects are legitimate and which ones don’t seem to be a part of the team’s plans.
Trending Up: Cole Irvin, LHP, Lehigh Valley
For the most part, the Phillies’ rotation and high-end pitching prospects are right-handed. Irvin has been the organization’s best left-handed starter in 2018.
He had decent numbers in 2017, but nothing to get too excited about. In 2018, he’s stepped up his game.
As of June 26th, Irvin was 8-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 16 starts. His best outing of the year came on May 30th against Charlotte when he threw 8.2 innings of four-hit, shutout ball.
The 24-year-old out of the University of Oregon has made quality start after quality start. He’s failed to go 5+ innings just once all year and went 6+ innings in every start from April 20 to June 26.
Irvin has won the International League Pitcher of the Week Award twice this season. He’s been outstanding this year and if the Phillies need a left-handed starter at any point, he’s the best in-house option. Even if he stays in Lehigh Valley this year, he has made great progress in 2018.