2019 Minor League Infield/Catcher Speculation

Squire 2019-01-18 21:09:22 UTC #1

This one is hard. I think most of the DH's might be extra infielders so I will add those here. I'll list 2 catchers since we tend to split workloads on those guys

Lehigh Valley
C: Deivi Grullon/Austin Bossert
1B: Mitch Walding
2B: Phil Gosselin
SS: Malquin Canelo
3B: Gift Ngoepe
DH: Andrew Romine

Reading
C: Edgar Cabral/Henri Lartique
1B: Darick Hall
2B: Jose Antequera
SS: Arquimedes Gamboa (I could see Maton jumping him and Gamboa back in Clearwater)
3B: Luke Williams
DH: Damek Tomscha

Clearwater
C: Rodolfo Duran/Colby Fitch
1B: Madison Stokes
2B: Daniel Brito
SS: Nick Maton
3B: Alec Bohm
DH: Jake Scheiner

Lakewood
C: Rafael Marchan/Jesse Wilkening
1B: Matt Kroon
2B: Bryan Gonzalez
SS: Jonathan Guzman(maybe Luis Garcia
3B: Cole Stobbe (maybe Jake Holmes)
DH: Seth Lancaster

andyb 2019-01-18 21:15:45 UTC #2

Luis Garcia will certainly be the most interesting low minors decision here. He is seen as a relatively polished prospect (unlike Jhailyn Ortiz). So I think they give him a shot at Lakewood and Guzman probably backs him up and plays some 2B and 3B. Not ideal for Guzman, but the starting reps really should go to the better prospect.

Austinfan 2019-01-18 21:53:04 UTC #3

Lehigh Valley
C: Deivi Grullon

Reading

1B: Darick Hall
2B Greeny Cumana
SS: Arquimedes Gamboa

Clearwater
C: Rodolfo Duran/Colby Fitch
2B: Daniel Brito
SS Dalton Guthrie
SS: Nick Maton
3B: Cole Stobbe
IF/OF: Jake Scheiner

Lakewood
C: Lenin/Rodriquez/Rafael Marchan/Jesse Wilkening
2B: Torres?
SS: Jake Holmes, Garcia?
3B: Alec Bohm/Seth Lancaster

This are the players who are at least marginal prospects.
I expect Guzman, Gonzalez, etc. to be in XST and Williamsport, none did enough to go to Lakewood at 19.
Nicholas Torres and Garcia are the best bets to jump to Lakewood

Bohm will probably start at Lakewood and finish at Clearwater.
2020 Reading/Lehigh and hopefully Philly in 2021.

Really weak at the top of the system, numbers below due to LA signings.

allentown 2019-01-18 21:53:56 UTC #4

Gift Ngoepe as the veteran 3B spare at Allentown is pathetic. He can't hit a lick. Walding is worthless at 1B. I would focus on trying to improve Walding's D at 3B.

andyb 2019-01-18 22:37:45 UTC #5

Doubtful a Torres can jump to Lakewood. Gonzalez is a level ahead of him in the system even if he struggled at Williamsport and he is considered the better prospect. He is not a sure thing for Lakewood, but has a better shot depending on his winter.

bkeich 2019-01-19 01:26:45 UTC #6

Wow, if anything ever showed why we need to get FA's this is it. There is no help coming anytime soon from the infielders.

phillychuck 2019-01-19 03:04:40 UTC #7

I think the Phils will try to sign a AAAA first baseman who can actually hit at the end of spring training when some of those kind of players are released, or do a AAAA for AAAA player swap for one. As Allentown said, Walding would be much more helpful as a 3B and should be working on his defense at AAA.

zambonir 2019-01-19 03:30:20 UTC #8

Any chance of Cozens at 1B? Certainly DH.

julio 2019-01-19 04:49:22 UTC #9

We are assuming that Austin Listi is an outfielder? He'll certainly be on either the Reading or Lehigh Valley roster.

zambonir 2019-01-19 07:58:59 UTC #10

Squire 2019-01-19 14:00:43 UTC #11

Phils did re-sign Matt McBride too. He might get a bunch of games at 1B.

phillychuck 2019-01-19 16:38:31 UTC #12

I think Cozens has no chance absent injury or significant trades to stick with the MLB club.