Philadelphia Phillies Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Feb 27, 2006 11:59 AM EST in News

Cole Hamels

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES TOP 20 PROSPECTS

Cole Hamels, LHP, Grade B+
Gio Gonzalez, LHP, B+
Daniel Haigwood, LHP, B
Welinson Baez, INF, B
Mike Costanzo, 3B, B-
Brad Harman, INF, C+
Michael Bourn, OF, C+
Jason Jaramillo, C, C+
Greg Golson, OF, C+
Scott Mathieson, RHP, C+
Shane Victorino, OF, C+
Chris Roberson, OF, C+
Tim Kennelly, INF, C+
Matt Maloney, LHP, C+
J.A. Happ, LHP, C+
Jake Blalock, OF, C
Josh Outman, LHP, C
Yoel Hernandez, RHP, C
Edgar Garcia, RHP, C
Carlos Carrasco, RHP, C

Whether or not Cole Hamels can avoid the doctors this year is the million dollar question.

Lefties Gonzalez and Haigwood, acquired from the White Sox in the Thome trade, immediately move up the list quickly. Then you have a large mass of B-/C+ types, guys with something interesting going for them, but also questions. Can Jaramillo hit at higher levels? Will Golson develop some plate discipline to go with his tools? Mathieson has a good arm and good K/BB numbers but can't get his ERA under 4.00. Roberson and Victorino are interesting but somewhat old for prospects.

One thing to watch for: the Phillies have made a big push in Australia lately, and guys like Brad Harman and Tim Kennelly could make that investment look very wise this year.

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Comments

Gavin Floyd

Has dropped pretty damn far..

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by ohad @ Minor League Ball on Feb 27, 2006 12:06 PM EST reply actions

Floyd

Has pitched 54 pro innings. He's not eligable anymore.

"Chuck Lamar, you're fired"- Stuart Sternburg.

by Tyler on Feb 27, 2006 12:29 PM EST reply actions

hmmm

That would explain it.

Then the real question would be: What would his ranking be and where would he place?

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by ohad @ Minor League Ball on Feb 27, 2006 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

The Cole Hamels poll

The Cole Hamels Poll asks if Cole will get hurt in the 2006 season.

Does Chris Snelling have the hospital on speed dial?

by The Scout on Feb 27, 2006 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Picture

I like how with the oft-injured Hamels the picture of him isn't in action, but talking to a reporter.

by Badger on Feb 27, 2006 3:42 PM EST reply actions

Michael Bourn(former Cougar)

Will he rebound?

by Ian Miller on Feb 27, 2006 4:38 PM EST reply actions

rebound?

he hit .268/.348/.364 after being double jumped past high A. i don't really think that was a bad enough year where the word rebound applies. he will be a very good top of the lineup hitter who gets on base and sets up abreu, utley, burrell, and howard. his power numbers took a dive last year, but that isn't going to affect his role at the top of the lineup. plus, isn't that to be expected for someone who has double jumped into AA? i would expect his slugging % to return to .400-.425 this year.

he will likely start the year repeating at AA, and will get the call up to AAA midway through the season with a possible late season callup to the phillies.

by overlord on Feb 28, 2006 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

Phillies Questions

I'll second the question of where Gavin Floyd would rank if eligible and add in a few other questions of my own - Where would Robinson Tejeda rank if eligible? Same question for Eude Brito...even though he'll be 28 this year and is more of a C guy anyway, I figured I'd ask just in case. Do Danny Sandoval and Carlos Ruiz profile as potential big league bench guys at best? What's your take on Chris Booker - he isn't a "prospect" (he is 29), but is coming off a stellar season in AAA and will have a pretty good shot to win a job with the Phils in spring training (assuming he is healthy).

Also, I'm assuming Josh Kroeger's omission was a mistake - he is a C+ in the book, but is nowhere to be found on the Phils list. Just wondering what was up there. I love these top 20 lists...especially when it is your favorite team being written about. Keep up the great work.

by roboz on Feb 27, 2006 4:50 PM EST reply actions

Tejeda

Yeah, am interested in Tejeda's grade as a prospect too. Thx.

by The Colonel on Feb 27, 2006 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

kroeger

Yeah, Kroeger should be on there as a C+. Put him at #13 and move everyone else down one slot.

by John Sickels on Feb 28, 2006 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Shane Victorino

Why such a low rating for Victorino?

He just hit .311/.377/.534 with 18 HR, and 17 SB (9 CS, though) in the International League as a 24 year old.

With the Phillies he somehow managed to post a lower OBP (.263) than AVG (.294). Someone should teach this guy how to run the bases. But other than that, what is up with this guy? Has he been injured a lot; is his defense apallingly bad? Does he eat babies?

by Klostrophobic on Feb 27, 2006 6:37 PM EST reply actions

MIKE DURANT 3B_ NOT A PROSPECT ???

BASEBALL AMERICA SAYS HE HAS THE MOST POWER IN THE WHOLE PHILLIES ORGANIZATION.SORT OF A RIGHTHANDED RYAN HOWARD ACROSS THE DIAMOND.
IS HE OR ISN'T HE ???

by DON HOAK on Feb 27, 2006 7:18 PM EST reply actions

Hey, Don

Stop shouting, you'll live longer:

http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Hoak.Don.Obit.html

by Flynn Blake on Feb 27, 2006 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

thanks Flynn,ssssssshhhh......

I been dead almost 40 yrs & you're telling me to quite down!!! How much quiteter can i get ???
Anyways that Durant kid must not be any Richie Allen the way everbody's dissing him .Hell,he may not even be a Roy Sievers !!!

by DON HOAK on Feb 27, 2006 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

durant

Durant hit .190 with 56 strikeouts in his first 39 pro games.

by John Sickels on Feb 28, 2006 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Shouldn't he warrant a grade C though?

He had probably the most raw power of anyone in the draft (out of high schoolers) other than Henry Sanchez. An 18 year old with a crappy 39 games in rookie league shouldn't make him a non prospect in a weak organization like this one.

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by ohad @ Minor League Ball on Feb 28, 2006 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Also

I would think he has just as good a chance at making the majors as Carlos Carrasco, another terrible performing youngun.

P.S. I'm biased. Durant was drafted out of Berkeley High School, which is in my home tone.

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by ohad @ Minor League Ball on Feb 28, 2006 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

durant

Sure, you can rate him a Grade C based on raw potential and youth, but I still can't see him as a Top 20 prospect just yet.

by John Sickels on Feb 28, 2006 10:09 AM EST reply actions

Why

doesn't Bourn get more love? Incredible speed (2nd to home on a routine sac fly), good D, pretty solid OBP (.340 as mentioned after double-jumped), and seems to me like he's a quintessential leadoff... That doesn't warrant a B or at least B- in the group?

by mroak89 on Mar 1, 2006 7:39 AM EST reply actions