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Phillies: Prospects other than Bohm, Howard to watch in spring training

By George Stockburger

TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers goes down the line high fiving teammates who are giving him the silent treatment upon returning to the dugout after hitting a home run during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers goes down the line high fiving teammates who are giving him the silent treatment upon returning to the dugout after hitting a home run during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FL – FEBRUARY 16: Adonis Medina (77) throws a bullpen session during the Philadelphia Phillies spring training workout on February 16, 2019 at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Adonis Medina

Phillies fans have heard the name Adonis Medina for years as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects. He’s been right behind former Phillies prospect Sixto Sanchez and the current star of the farm system Spencer Howard as the number two starting pitcher, and this could be the year Medina breaks into the big leagues.

Just turning 23-years-old Medina recently fell off some of the top-100 rankings after being a consensus top-60 prospect for years. After four seasons with a 2.57 ERA between rookie ball and Advanced-A, Medina saw his ERA skyrocket over the last two years. In fact, since he had a 2.92 ERA in 2016 his ERA has gone up every year.

Medina’s strikeout numbers have also dropped over the last three seasons, and his walks went up in Reading, going from 2.9 BB/9 in each of his last two years to 3.5 in 2019.

We’ll see where the organization starts Medina in 2020, but he’ll likely get some spring training starts and possibly some airtime. If Medina can be a middle of the rotation starter, he would be a much-needed addition to the starting rotation beyond 2020.

Garrett Cleavinger

Acquired from the Orioles for Jeremy Hellickson in 2017, Garrett Cleavinger is coming off a career-year for Reading with 83 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. As Baseball America notes (subscription required) Cleavinger’s velocity jumped from the low-90s to averaging 95 MPH and even hitting 99 MPH.

Cleavinger’s 3.66 ERA last year was his best since 2016 after three seasons sitting at 6.00 or above. He’s healthy after missing all but 13 innings last year due to an ACL injury and he earned a spot on the Phillies 40-man roster this offseason.

Cleavinger will have to prove he’s not just a flash in the pan and that getting healthy and finding something midway through last season is the turning point he needed in his career. He’ll get some looks in spring training games and with a 40-man roster spot already in hand he has a chance at breaking into the big leagues this season.

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