Phillies Prospect Report: Cole Irvin rising in the organization
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.
Trending Up: Austin Listi, 1B, Reading
Listi tore the cover off the ball in the early going this year, eventually earning himself a promotion from Clearwater to Reading.
Philadelphia Phillies
In 58 games for the Threshers, Listi hit .344 with 9 home runs and 45 RBI with .453 OBP.
On June 18, he got the call to AA, and through 14 games he’s is hitting .340 with four home runs and 17 RBI.
In Reading, his strikeout numbers have increased, averaging a strikeout per game after going down 42 times in 58 games in Clearwater.
It’s not too concerning and with the better competition, more strikeouts are expected. What’s encouraging is that he has kept up his average since his promotion.
He seems to have fit right in at the higher level and continues to get on base.
Hopefully, Listi maintains his power numbers in AA. If he is able to do that, the Phillies will have a pretty good prospect on their hands.
Trending Down: Bailey Falter, RHP, Clearwater
In his first seven starts of the season, Falter was unhittable. He was 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA. He gave up a total of seven earned runs in that stretch, including three starts in which he did not allow a single earned run.
More from Phillies Prospects
- Prospect Andrew Baker could help Phillies bullpen in 2023
- Phillies manager suggests Andrew Painter could make Opening Day roster
- Phillies No. 1-ranked prospect Andrew Painter receives national accolade
- Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter continues to dominate
- Philadelphia Phillies prospects thriving is a positive sign for the future
In his last four starts, Falter’s ERA has ballooned to 3.32. In this most recent span, he’s given up 15 earned runs, including a season-worst six on May 29 against Fort Myers.
Overall, he’s had a decent season. He is 5-3 in 11 starts and has thrown 59.2 innings. He has shown good command with just 11 walks on the year to 58 strikeouts.
The only concern is his recent stretch. His stuff is clearly still there because he is still recording a decent amount of strikeouts. This bad streak of starts might just have to do with a little bit of bad luck, but after his great start it is disheartening to see him struggle over the last few weeks.
With that being said, it’s a long season. I expect him to snap out of it.
Trending Down: Kyle Martin, 1B, Clearwater
Martin has struggled all year long, which led to his demotion from Reading to Clearwater when Austin Listi was promoted to Reading.
As a whole, he is hitting .183 this year with four home runs, 21 RBI and 52 strikeouts. Since his demotion, he has a .135 average in 11 games.
He has five hits in those 11 games, but he has shown the ability to walk in that time. Martin has seven walks since moving to Clearwater and has 32 walks combined this year.
His eye at the plate has been decent, but it hasn’t led to more offense. His OBP for the year is .298, so he hasn’t been able to spring the walks into more hits.
Next: Phillies: Power Ranking Players from 2008
It is looking like Martin will be stuck down in the lower rungs of the organization or moved out in some way. There’s just no room in the higher levels or on the Phillies for a first baseman that hits below .200.