2018 Minor League Affiliate Opening Day Rotations

[nycphils]

Here's my guess, things are pretty crowded

Assumes Phils have Nola, Eickhoff, Pivetta, Lively, Eflin, Velasquez, Leiter all in the majors

LHV - Cole Irvin, Drew Anderson, Brandon Liebrant, T. Eshelman, J. Thompson

Rea - Kilome, Elinery Garcia, Edgar Garcia, JoJo Romero, seranthony/Mills

Clearwater - Sixto, Seranthony/Mills, Suarez, Fanti, Medina, Falter

Lakewood - Requena, Paulino, K. Young, Brown, Howard, Seabold (Mezquita?Morales?)

[Austinfan]

Assumes Phils have Nola, Eickhoff, Pivetta, Lively, Velasquez, Leiter all in the majors
Five young starters plus high probability of one FA starter
2018 age in ( ), * LH

LHV - J. Thompson (24), Zach Eflin (24), Drew Anderson (24), T. Eshelman (24), Brandon Liebrant* (23), Tavares (24)

Reading - Franklin Kilome (23), Cole Irvin* (23), Elinery Garcia* (23), Jacob Waguespack (24), Tyler Viza (23), Edgar Garcia (21), Mario Sanchez (23)

Clearwater - Sixto Sanchez (20), JoJo Romero* (22), Ranger Suarez* (23), Seranthony Dominquez (23), McKenzie Mills* (22), Adonis Medina (21), Nick Fanti* (21), Bailey Falter* (21), Alejandro Requena (21)

Lakewood - Kyle Young* (20), Spencer Howard (22), Andrew Brown (20), Mauricio Llovera (22), Connor Seabold (22), Julian Garcia (23), Ramon Russo (22), Luis Carrasco (23), WIll Stewart* (21)

[andyb]

I put Romero on a fast track in Reading. He could be ready by the end of 2018. Sooner than Sixto IMO because they don't need to manage his innings as much.

[Austinfan]

Klentak tends to start players the next season where they ended the year before if they were promoted.
Then let them earn the jump to the next level.
Given the starter depth they won't be rushing any pitchers unless there's a rash of injuries.

The guy who's probably the most likely to shoot up rapidly is Dominquez if he can stay healthy.

The toughest decisions will be the Clearwater rotation, the Lakewood pitchers really don't need to return.

[andyb]

Disagree on Dominguez. While he might have front line stuff it is very unpolished and he probably needs a couple more full years in the minors. Romero is much more fully formed and has an athletic, repeatable delivery that should not need as much high minors time as long as he keeps pitching well. I am not sure there is really a promotion pattern at all with Klentak and Jordan here. What they do that might be a little different is actually not have a set plan for each prospect. They seem to be more open to promoting players midseason or when they are ready compared to the old regime. They also seem to cut bait on non-prospects a little quicker than in the past, though that could also be a function of a deeper system.

I do think Romero will be in Philly by September, 2018. Maybe Sanchez too unless they manage his innings carefully. There is no reason he has to be, but its very possible his performance will dictate that. If the Phillies were contending late next year he could be our "Walker Beuhler".

[Squire]

Just a hunch...but I don't think Clearwater and Lakewood are going with 9 man rotations.

[Squire]

Major League Phillies

RHP Nola
RHP Eickhoff
RHP Velasquez
RHP Pivetta
Free Agent to Be Signed

The Guys In AAA/Major League Limbo:
RHP Eflin
RHP Lively
RHP Thompson
RHP Leiter

Going with six man rotations at every minor league level

AAA :
RHP Tavares
RHP De Los Santos
RHP Anderson
LHP Elniery Garcia
RHP Tom Eshelman
LHP Brandon Liebrandt

AA:
RHP Kilome
LHP Irvin
LHP Suarez
LHP Romero
LHP Mills
RHP Viza

Clearwater:
RHP S.Sanchez
RHP Medina
LHP Fanti
RHP Howard
LHP Falter
RHP Edgar Garcia

Lakewood:
LHP Young
RHP Seabold
RHP A. Brown
RHP Julian. Garcia
LHP Parkinson
RHP Rosso

[Austinfan]

Major League Phillies

RHP Nola
RHP Eickhoff
RHP Pivetta
RHP Lively
RHP Velasquez - last season to prove himself, otherwise to the bullpen
RHP Leiter - 6th starter/LR, has ML value b/c he doesn't need to start

Lehigh:
RHP Eflin
RHP Thompson
RHP Tom Eshelman
RHP Tavares
RHP Anderson
LHP Brandon Liebrandt

Reading:
RHP Kilome
RHP De Los Santos
LHP Elniery Garcia
LHP Irvin
RHP Wageuspak - may have been the best Reading starter at the end of the year
RHP Viza
RHP M Sanchez

Clearwater:
RHP S.Sanchez
RHP Medina
LHP Romero - only started 10 games at Clearwater last year
LHP Suarez
LHP Mills
RHP Howard
RHP Requena
LHP Fanti
LHP Falter
RHP Edgar Garcia

Lakewood:
LHP Young
RHP Seabold
RHP A. Brown
RHP Llovera
LHP Julian. Garcia
LHP Stewart
RHP Russo
RHP Carrasco
LHP Parkinson
RHP Rosso