2017 Phillies Instructional League

Squire 2017-09-14 14:35:59 UTC #1

See Attached. Only 5 members of the current year 7/2 class: Betancourt, Garcia, Puello, Vargas, De La Cruz which is a little surprising

andyb 2017-09-14 14:44:54 UTC #2

One small note - De La Cruz was the New York HS kid they signed as a free agent a month ago after a strong summer, so he is not part of the 7/2 class.

Normally they do not bring anyone over that they don't think has a shot to start in GCL next season. They did bring a pretty large contingent of DSL players from this season though. Our first look at how skinny Leonel Aponte actually is.

Austinfan 2017-09-14 14:59:40 UTC #3

Well, Aponte is listed at 165, he was at 144 when signed.

Squire 2017-09-14 15:11:04 UTC #4

Some surprising omissions to me are Juan Mendez, C (DSL); Cesar Rodriguez, C (2017 Top 50 Signee) and Nicolas Torres, SS (DSL)

andyb 2017-09-14 15:34:50 UTC #5

One odd thing I noticed in the DSL box scores was that Torres started the year usually batting near the top of the lineup. Then midseason he got benched a bit and then reappeared in the back end of the lineup, often 7th or 8th. All this time he was hitting well (804 OPS for a 17-year-old 2B) so he really looks like a player the coaching staff soured on a bit.

I would not be shocked to see him included as a trade in the offseason.

Mendez as an older player just may not be considered a good prospect by the team. Or he is not fully healthy yet.

allentown 2017-09-14 15:47:24 UTC #6

It's a very intriguing roster. Not sure why the Phillies would sour on a 17-year old. Teenagers are teenagers the world over. The team was certainly rewarded for accepting some early flakiness from Cole Hamels. Perhaps they learned that he isn't really 17.

Austinfan 2017-09-14 15:58:01 UTC #7

Or the player has a commit to a winter league team, isn't there a junior winter league circuit?

andyb 2017-09-14 15:58:51 UTC #8

Or it could be as simple as the second tier LA prospects are going to the Venezuelan Liga Paralela or something similar. There are almost no position players invited (no middle infielders) from the DSL teams at all. They were always going to want to bring Luis Garcia in no matter what.

BTW Matt Winkelman is starting his list of fall assignments:

They seem to be getting more serious about Colombia for their younger prospects (Luke Williams, Arquimedes Gamboa) who may not be ready for the top tier winter leagues. This probably guarantees Gamboa playing time where in VZ he would be a bench player and he is too advanced for the Liga Paralela.

julio 2017-09-14 16:02:34 UTC #9

There are good reasons to explore the Colombian winter league, as opposed to anything in Venezuela right now - as in, keeping players alive and out of kidnap/ransom situations. Nasty business.

Philsmania 2017-09-14 16:06:58 UTC #10

What's Roman Quinn going to do this winter?

And, I hope Cozens takes the winter off to proverbially clear his head.

julio 2017-09-14 16:09:34 UTC #11

Play somewhere for a few weeks, then get injured somehow (probably).

But seriously, if he's recovered and able to play, it would be a good idea for him to be playing somewhere. At his point in development, the Dominican league would make the most sense, i think - it's the most competitive.

bkeich 2017-09-15 13:19:32 UTC #12

I actually think he is "Ready" for the ML at this point, at least as a bench OF. Maybe if he only plays part time he can avoid injury. It doesnt really make sense to me either, but they have to try something or just release the guy, let his body rest, have him do drills (slowly) somewhere and come to camp ready to try and make the bench.

Anyone else I would say playing some in the Winter would be good for him, this poor guy I would say just keep him away from anything moving and limit his movements. Gotta feel for the guy, he has the tools, he obviously wants to play and he has fought back from every possible injury there is, just needs some freaking luck.

fish 2017-09-15 14:36:03 UTC #13

bkeich:

Play somewhere for a few weeks, then get injured somehow (probably).
But seriously, if he's recovered and able to play, it would be a good idea for him to be playing somewhere. At his point in development, the Dominican league would make the most sense, i think - it's the most competitive.

I actually think he is "Ready" for the ML at this point, at least as a bench OF. Maybe if he only plays part time he can avoid injury. It doesnt really make sense to me either, but they have to try something or just release the guy, let his body rest, have him do drills (slowly) somewhere and come to camp ready to try and make the bench.

Anyone else I would say playing some in the Winter would be good for him, this poor guy I would say just keep him away from anything moving and limit his movements. Gotta feel for the guy, he has the tools, he obviously wants to play and he has fought back from every possible injury there is, just needs some freaking luck.

I agree. I think he needs to be treated like a pitcher that throws 100 mph- don't waste bullets trying to develop him longer he's reached the highest run of the ladder and he can contribute something now (I don't literally mean 'now' in Quinn's case, but you know what I mean). You know sooner or later he's going to blow out, so get what you can from him. Treat him like a 4th outfielder version of Freddy Galvis- play him as much as you can wherever you can without hanging your hopes on him as a regular.

allentown 2017-09-15 17:22:42 UTC #14

I totally agree. And don't allow head-first slides. He doesn't need to play winter ball; ST will suffice. He especially doesn't need to play in the DR, which likely is too rough for him. If they send him anywhere, it should be Australia.

andyb 2017-09-27 15:55:49 UTC #15

Some updates post-Irma from Phuture Phillies:

Games start Saturday. Some roster shuffling because of winter ball (need a new thread for that). I think we need a picture of Jakob Hernandez and Leonel Aponte standing next to each other.

bkox 2017-10-01 20:52:04 UTC #16