MLB The Show Player Ratings for the Phillies in 2020
MLB The Show Player Ratings are now out for the Phillies
While baseball fans wait for the season to return, MLB The Show player ratings recently came out and Phillies fans have an opportunity to simulate a season while they wait for the real thing.
Right now the Phillies only have two players with an MLB The Show player rating of 90 or better and only seven with a grade of at least 80.
These grades come despite the team adding several big time free agents over the last two seasons.
Unfortunately, top prospect Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard, both of whom are likely to join the team in 2020, are not yet in the major league section of the game because they are not on the 40-man roster.
Before we look at the starters, here’s a look at the MLB The Show player rankings for players who are unlikely to make the big league roster or are fighting for a roster spot.
- Deivy Grullon – 74
- Robert Stock – 74
- Kyle Garlick – 68
- JoJo Romero – 66
- Cole Irvin: 64
- Adonis Medina – 64
- Christopher Sanchez – 64
- Austin David: 64
- Mauricio Llovera – 63
- Francisco Liriano – 61
- Enyel De Los Santos 59
- Deolis Guerra 55
Liriano might have a shot at the Phillies bullpen if they have an expanded roster on opening day should there be a shortened second spring training due to the coronavirus. Grullon will certainly be the next man up at catcher, while Medina could make his major league debut in the rotation as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.
Now, let’s dive into the MLB The Show player rankings for Phillies hitters going into the 2020 season, whenever it may be.
Phillies Outfielders
Bryce Harper: 91
Last year Bryce Harper, the cover boy for MLB The Show 2019, was a 90, so he went up by one point after a fairly successful first season in Philadelphia. We took a look at his projections for the 2020 season and also how he’s trending towards a Hall of Fame career.
Once again, one of the players the Phillies added last season is among their top position players in MLB The Show. Andrew McCutchen is still recovering from a torn ACL, but with opening day pushed back he could be available to start the season. This is a solid rating for a veteran outfielder coming off major knee surgery.
Roman Quinn finished spring training on a strong note with two home runs and six hits in 10 games, putting himself in the conversation for the starting center fielder job. His MLB The Show Player Ratings for speed on The Show is likely among the best in baseball, but his injury rate would be polar-opposite. The story for Quinn has been the same since the Phillies drafted him: he has difference making speed, but he can’t stay healthy.
The 2017 eighth overall pick had a strong showing his rookie year despite playing virtually zero time in Triple-A due to the Phillies injuries in 2019. The front office went into spring training ready for Haseley to take the job, but he hit just .143 in eight games with nine strikeouts. Haseley might have to platoon with Quinn but he should get more playing time to prove he was worth a first round pick.
Phillies Position Players
The Phillies catcher is also coming off a very successful first season in Philadelphia where he set career highs across the board and swept most of the catcher hardware. It’s no question he’s the best catcher in baseball, so I feel he’s a bit underrated in this game.
MLB The Show must be looking for a big rebound season from Rhys Hoskins to give him an 80 overall. Obviously his power rankings are going to push him up the leaderboard, but his defense and on-base percentage outside of walks are not fantastic. Hopefully, that rebound season comes and we see Hoskins in, at least, the high 80s next year.
I guess you can call Jean Segura the Phillies’ third baseman? After a bumpy start at his new position Segura’s defense picked up in spring training and he held his own at the hot corner. His MLB The Show Player Ratings are decent after a down season, but Segura is known to be a consistent .300 hitter in his career.
With Segura appearing to be set at third base the Phillies might finally have Scott Kingery playing his natural position. Of all the Phillies, Kingery might have the chance to see his MLB The Show Player Ratings jump after the 2020 season. Now that he doesn’t have to worry about which glove to take onto the field Kingery can focus on hitting and being a consistent .280 hitter in the six or seven hole.
I’m a little surprised to see Didi Gregorius with such low MLB The Show Player Ratings, but you have to remember that he’s coming off a down season where he missed time following Tommy John Surgery. Like Kingery, Gregorius’ MLB The Show Player Ratings should rebound during his one-year deal with the Phillies thanks to him being fully recovered and the home run-friendy confines of Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies Bench Players
On some teams Jay Bruce might be the starting designated hitter or potentially an opening day first baseman. For the Phillies he’s their more versatile version of Matt Stairs, someone who can pinch-hit and come up with a big home run late in ballgames. This is about where Bruce should rate on MLB The Show given his role on the Phillies bench.
Depending on how the opening day roster shakes out, Nick Williams may not make the Phillies. He started last season on the bench and performed terribly in that role. It’s certainly a major role change for someone who was once considered a top prospect. Frankly, I’m surprised Williams got this high of a grade. He’s certainly athletic and on a team like Detroit he might be starting, but he needs to play every day.
The Phillies signed Josh Harrison relatively early in the offseason, putting him in prime position to grab a bench spot. He received a decent rating, one that would have undervalued him a couple of years ago in Pittsburgh. While he’s not as highly rated at this point in his career, Harrison remains a valuable piece of the 2020 Phillies.
Like Harrison, Neil Walker was brought in to be a veteran bat off the bench who could play multiple positions for Philadelphia if needed. He gives them positional flexibility and a decent bat, though he’s a career .233 hitter in 91 plate appearances.
Logan Forsythe was the third infielder brought in by Philadelphia to compete for one of two bench spots. He’s had a strong spring training hitting .348 with three home runs, virtually guaranteeing him a roster spot. It’s a bit surprising his rating is low, but then again he’s bounced around the league and struggled to hit.
Andrew Knapp is what he is at this point after three seasons in the big leagues. He’s going to be a career backup catcher who will appear in 60-80 games in various roles. This is about where Knapp, a career .223 hitter, should land in player rankings.
Phillies Starting Pitchers
Aaron Nola is coming off a relatively down season following his third place finish in the Cy Young award race. We might not see another season like 2018 again from Nola, but hopefully we at least see something in between his 2018 and ’19 performances. An 86 overall is certainly fair, and Nola has room to grow into the 90s range.
Zack Wheeler has dealt with injuries in recent years but the tail end of his 2019 season got him a massive five year contract with the Phillies. I’m a little surprised he’s only rated 80 overall in MLB The Show given his trajectory and where he stands among his fellow starters, but thankfully we don’t have to rely on this grade for his success in 2020.
I think Jake Arrieta’s reputation is keeping his rating up more than his performance has. In his first two seasons with the Phillies Arrieta has a 4.26 ERA and has dealt with multiple injuries, most recently bone spurs in his elbow. On most playoff teams Arrieta wouldn’t be anything more than a number four starter. Right now, he’s the third man out of the gate for Philadelphia.
Zach Eflin should rebound under pitching coach Bryan Price after Chris Young’s teachings got him in trouble on the mound last year. Hoping to keep the ball lower in the zone and focus on groundballs, Eflin could find himself as the Phillies number three starter and potentially move his rating up into the mid-70s by seasons end.
Ultimately, Vince Velasquez will find himself in the Phillies bullpen this season. He’s been given ample opportunity in five seasons and has produced nothing but mediocrity and false hope. There is some hope he can be a hard-throwing setup man, but he has to get past the idea that he’s a starter.
Copy everything I said about Velasquez and paste it here under Pivetta.
Of all the Phillies pitchers who impressed in Clearwater earlier this spring, few stood out more than Ranger Suarez. He put himself into the fifth starter conversation with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings with zero home runs allowed and only one walk. If he doesn’t win the starter job he’s a valuable long-man in the bullpen.
Phillies relievers
Given his injury and subsequent Tommy John surgery I’m a little surprised David Robertson is the Phillies highest-ranked reliever. Then again, that speaks to how unproven the Phillies bullpen is this season. If healthy, Robertson is a valuable set-up man and a potential closer option. With the season delayed the Phillies could get more games out of Robertson than they expected.
It’s hard to believe that Hector Neris is entering his fourth season as the Phillies closer. After all the questions and flareups on the mound, Neris is coming off a career-high 28 saves. Fourteen pitchers have more saves than Neris over the last three years, though the opportunities haven’t been bountiful.
This grade feels like it’s based on the potential of Seranthony Dominguez rather than his output. After a masterful debut that excited Phillies fans Dominguez had a 4.01 ERA last year and had a 4.87 ERA in his final two months of 2018. He’s likely headed towards surgery, something put off way too long.
Talking about Phillies relievers coming off surgery, Victor Arano pitched just three games in 2019 after two strong seasons to begin his big league career. In his first 70 appearances Arano has a 2.57 ERA with 73 strikeouts and just 21 walks, potentially making him a key for the Phillies bullpen. That all relies on health.
Jose Alvarez might be the most undervalued Phillies player in MLB The Show. He was quietly a big piece to the bullpen in 2019 with a 2.54 ERA from July 4 to the final game of the season allowing just three home runs and striking out 27 in 28.1 innings.
Rounding out the guys most likely to make the Phillies bullpen is another undervalued pitcher who has been injured recently. Gracefully going from a starting pitcher to reliever Adam Morgan is another competent long reliever who can help the Phillies against left-handed hitters, especially with the new reliever rules. He had a strong 2018 but missed time last season, likely contributing to his low grade. Morgan is another prime candidate to see his MLB The Show Player Ratings go back up.