2017 Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Insider
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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The Phillies’ rebuild took a solid step forward, as the team improved by eight wins from the previous year despite a difficult offensive season. The Phils scored just 610 runs, tied for their fewest in a full season since 1988.
HIGH POINT: No one told Philadelphia it wasn’t supposed to contend early on, as the Phillies got off to a 24-17 start. They were just a half-game back of first place as righthanders Jeremy Hellickson and Vince Velasquez won 11 of their first 14 decisions, and closer Jeanmar Gomez saved 16 of the club’s first 24 victories. Velasquez provided the single-game highlight with an April 14 complete-game shutout with 16 strikeouts and no walks against the Padres.
LOW POINT: The Phillies ran out of gas and pitching in September, most exemplified by a late stretch including a series loss to the Mets with 10-5 and 17-0 losses sandwiched around a 10-8 win in which New York nearly rallied from a 10-0 deficit. Gomez posted a 19.13 ERA after Sept. 1 as the Phils went 11-18 to finish the season.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: With Ryan Howard ending his tenure in Philadelphia as his contract expires, rookie Tommy Joseph emerged as his platoon partner and hit 21 homers in a .257/.308/.505 campaign. The Phillies didn’t get much out of rookie righthanders Zach Eflin (3-5, 5.54), Jake Thompson (3-6, 5.70) and Severino Gonzalez (1-2, 5.60), while Edubray Ramos (1-3, 3.83) had his moments in a relief role. Thompson has the highest expectations going into 2017.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Philadelphia had traded its top pieces, with catcher Carlos Ruiz the last piece of the ’08 World Series champions to be traded off, to the Dodgers in August. Howard finished his Phillies tenure with his 382 home runs ranking second in franchise history.
DOWN ON THE FARM: The Phillies’ greatest progress came in the minors, where Philadelphia domestic affiliates finished with a .595 winning percentage, the best mark by a farm system since the 2007 Yankees. Four Phillies clubs made the playoffs, with three 80-win clubs at high Class A Clearwater, Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Reading had the minors’ two top home run hitters, with outfielder Dylan Cozens edging first baseman Rhys Hoskins 40-38. Cozens also led the minors with 125 RBIs, while righthander Ben Lively went 18-5, 2.69 to lead the minors in wins.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $ 83,980,000 (25th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | J.P. Crawford |
| Best Power Hitter | Dylan Cozens |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | J.P. Crawford |
| Fastest Baserunner | Roman Quinn |
| Best Athlete | Roman Quinn |
| Best Fastball | Alberto Tirado |
| Best Curveball | Nick Pivetta |
| Best Slider | Edgar Garcia |
| Best Changeup | Ricardo Pinto |
| Best Control | Thomas Eshelman |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Jorge Alfaro |
| Best Defensive Infielder | J.P. Crawford |
| Best Infield Arm | J.P. Crawford |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Roman Quinn |
| Best Outfield Arm | Jose Pujols |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Jorge Alfaro |
| First Base | Rhys Hoskins |
| Second Base | Cesar Hernandez |
| Third Base | Maikel Franco |
| Shortstop | J.P. Crawford |
| Left Field | Odubel Herrera |
| Center Field | Mickey Moniak |
| Right Field | Nick Williams |
| No. 1 Starter | Aaron Nola |
| No. 2 Starter | Jerad Eickhoff |
| No. 3 Starter | Vince Velasquez |
| No. 4 Starter | Sixto Sanchez |
| No. 5 Starter | Franklyn Kilome |
| Closer | Victor Arano |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Carlos Carrasco, rhp | Indians |
| 2008 | Carlos Carrasco, rhp | Indians |
| 2009 | Domonic Brown, of | Blue Jays |
| 2010 | Domonic Brown, of | Blue Jays |
| 2011 | Domonic Brown, of | Blue Jays |
| 2012 | Trevor May, rhp | Twins |
| 2013 | Jesse Biddle, lhp | Braves |
| 2014 | Maikel Franco, 3b/1b | Phillies |
| 2015 | J.P. Crawford, ss | Phillies |
| 2016 | J.P. Crawford, ss | Phillies |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Joe Savery, lhp | Did not play |
| 2008 | Anthony Hewitt, of | Atlantic League |
| 2009 | Kelly Dugan, of (2nd round) | Cubs |
| 2010 | Jesse Biddle, lhp | Braves |
| 2011 | Larry Greene, of (1st round supp.) | Did not play |
| 2012 | Shane Watson, rhp (1st round supp.) | Phillies |
| 2013 | J.P. Crawford, ss | Phillies |
| 2014 | Aaron Nola, rhp | Phillies |
| 2015 | Cornelius Randolph, of | Phillies |
| 2016 | Mickey Moniak, of | Phillies |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Mickey Moniak, 2016 | $6,100,000 |
| Gavin Floyd, 2001 | $4,200,000 |
| Jhailyn Ortiz, 2015 | $4,010,000 |
| Kevin Gowdy, 2016 | $3,500,000 |
| Aaron Nola, 2014 | $3,300,900 |
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