Phillies prospect Dylan Cozens out for the year, future in doubt
Phillies fans may have seen the last of Dylan Cozens
Phillies prospect Dylan Cozens, who went on a torrid home run stretch during his minor league career, will miss the remainder of the season due to foot surgery, according to Tom Housenick of the Morning Call.
Cozens is out of minor league options, meaning next year he’d either have to make the team out of spring training or be moved elsewhere.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old slugger has 132 minor league home runs and clubbed 40 for Double-A Reading in 2016, but he’s failed to keep up both in the minors and big leagues.
In 23 games this season for the IronPigs Cozens was hitting just .167 with six home runs and 42 strikeouts.
Once a top-20 prospect for Philadelphia, Cozens couldn’t get his bat to translate to the big leagues in limited opportunities, hitting .154 in 45 plate appearances.
At 6’6 235 lbs Cozens always looked like someone destined to move from the outfield and be a designated hitter or first baseman. He’s athletic enough to play the outfield, but isn’t an above-average fielder.
With Rhys Hoskins set at first and Bryce Harper in right field the opportunities for Cozens to get playing time in Philadelphia is limited long-term. He could be best set with a team still rebuilding such as the Royals who could use a cheap young power bat worth developing.
Cozens could also go international if the opportunities don’t arrive next year, depending on the severity of his foot injury. Former Phillies minor league slugger Tommy Joseph is having some success playing in Korea with six home runs and perhaps Cozens takes that route down the line.
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Cozens does still have talent worth tapping into if you’re a big league team who wants to sign Cozens to a minor league deal. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has been impressed with Cozens’ strength and abilities at the plate, but it has, unfortunately, not come together for Cozens when given the opportunity.