Phillies: 3 prospects who provide optimism for future

3. Cornelius Randolph

A former 10th overall 2015 first-round selection out of the Georgia-based Griffin High School, outfielder Cornelius Randolph long appeared to be yet another “Phillies draft bust.”

As recently as the 2019 season with Double-A Reading, Randolph slashed just .247/.324/.399 across 102 games and 389 plate appearances. Playing in 20 games with the Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League last year, he hit just .210 with five extra-base hits, five walks, and 19 strikeouts across 69 plate appearances.

Suddenly, things seem to be clicking for Randolph in 2021 Triple-A East action as a member of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Across 21 games and 82 plate appearances, the 24-year-old is slashing a much-better .311/.378/.541 with five doubles, four home runs, 14 RBI, four stolen bases, eight walks, and 20 strikeouts.

During a nine-game stretch from May 15-25, Randolph recorded at least one it in each, and hit a combined .548 with eight extra-base hits and nine RBI. On May 24, he received Triple-A East Player of the Week honors.

Randolph recently suffered an injury setback, and was placed on the injured list with an elbow sprain.

Fellow former first-round Phillies draft picks selected in years after Randolph have already made their big-league debuts — including Mickey Moniak (2016), Adam Haseley (2017), and Alec Bohm (2018).

Hopefully, Randolph quickly returns to full health, picks up where he left off, and gets his first taste of Major League Baseball action. Between him, Falter, Williams and other prospects, the future is brighter for the Phillies than what fans may think.