2021-2022 Winter Ball - AFL, Instructional, Latin America

Austinfan 2021-10-26 23:14:00 UTC #91

If Stott keeps this up, they're gonna take a long look in ST, he may just bypass AAA ball. It's not like he's a youngster, he turned 24 in October, played 3 years in college, lost a season to COVID but was solid at Reading. I'd probably put the AFL between AA and AAA ball, more talent but less experience than AAA ball. What's impressive is his plate discipline and ability to make consistent contact.

zambonir 2021-10-27 02:09:58 UTC #92

I know it's not the same, and it was a short season regardless, but didn't they ultimately bring Stott to the alternate site?

EDmuch 2021-10-27 11:34:08 UTC #93

Stott could cause Phils to refocus their UFA search to justLF and CF.

andyb 2021-10-27 13:41:46 UTC #94

Might depend on whether they think he is a SS or not. The one caveat is that Arizona is a really good offensive league. The Phillies have not done that well there recently, but that might be the quality of prospect we send there (as in not great). The league also plays to Stott's plate discipline strengths. Not to take anything away from him, but there are usually 20 guys who do this every year in that league. Stott is 12 in OPS and O'Hoppe is 19th. League ERA is close to 6.00.

In other news, the Dominican League starts tonight. Should be a bunch of Phillies playing including Jhailyn Ortiz.

Austinfan 2021-10-27 14:07:35 UTC #95

They're not going to make any decisions based on the AFL, rather, Stott's performance and his age will mean they'll look at him closely in ST (i.e., give him a lot of starts at SS) and gauge how close he is to being ML ready. They will be monitoring his fielding with regard to prioritizing SS in the off season, if they think he's at least adequate, that allows them to start the season with Didi/Galvis and bring Stott up if he's not ready in April.

O'Hoppe can lead the AFL in OPS, but that won't change his 2022 destination, with JT entrenched and O'Hoppe only 22 years old next year, they'll want him to start in AAA and force a promotion.

allentown 2021-10-27 15:02:59 UTC #96

I think Stott and O'Hoppe are both at Allentown as next-guy-up injury replacements. They can save some $ by having Marchan as the backup catcher. Unless they are comfortable with Galvis as our starting SS next season, I think they need to add a starting SS over the winter. They can't wait until ST with that major a hole.

Phillies Hot Stove Discussion 2021-22

andyb 2021-10-27 16:02:08 UTC #97

I'd still start O'Hoppe at Reading with Marchan at LHV. Both need to play if they are not on the major league roster and there is no hurry for O'Hoppe to debut. He can still be in the mix for an injury replacement if he does well by midseason (Marchan would be first up to get the call).

Austinfan 2021-10-27 16:13:42 UTC #98

If O'Hoppe is this good a hitter, given JT as a road block, you might want to have him play other positions (1B, RF) so you don't bury him on the bench when he comes up. And that added flexibility in a backup catcher has real value on the short benches in the major leagues these days.

andyb 2021-10-27 16:25:34 UTC #99

He isn't. An occasional 1B start is fine. But you don't move a catcher who is only a little bit above average there. You just don't. His offense would be below average at the other positions he can play (even if the Phillies might be below average there too).

Taudawg 2021-10-27 16:44:56 UTC #100

How do we know O’Hoppe isn’t going to keep improving? He just played 2021 at age 21, doesn’t turn 22 until next year. He’s ahead of and better than J.T. Was at the same age.

That said, he’s not close to ready and should play most/all of 2022 at AAA.

andyb 2021-10-27 17:07:06 UTC #101

He could and that would be great. But if he were not a catcher we would not be talking about his offense as special. He just had a .789 OPS. Nice, but nothing special for an outfielder or a first baseman which are really the other positions he could play. Just because his offense is little ahead of Realmuto at the same age (right before JT took major step forwards offensively) is really not that important. But the main point is that preparing O'Hoppe to play any other position now would not be wise. He needs to learn how to play catcher and with the DH his bat will be in the lineup plenty. Maybe he gets occasional 1B starts, but that is something all minor leaguers do. Any serious instruction time still needs to be at catcher.

andyb 2021-10-28 16:25:25 UTC #102

From the Dominican last night:

Rosso 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K
C. Sanchez, 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 K

Jhailyn Ortiz and Rodolfo Duran are on the opening day rosters that I saw though those rosters change daily. Imagine Ortiz just got back from instructionals last week. I do think we will also see players like Medina and maybe even Rojas and Luis Garcia eventually. The Dominican scores are accessible from the MLB offseason page even if the calendars are all still defaulting to 2 years ago and the organizational stat links do not work.

mdougherty12 2021-10-28 18:39:14 UTC #103

Apparently, MLB.TV subscribers can watch Dominican Winter League games:

andyb 2021-10-28 19:19:11 UTC #104

That article is a little confusing as it says available to all MLB.TV subscribers but then says all who add the $24.95 postseason package later on. I guess I will give it a try tonight. I wonder if any of the other leagues will make a deal with MLB.TV or something like ESPN+.

In other news in the Dominican, Albert Pujols is going to play for the first time. He had to technically be traded for this to happen. He will be playing for Escogido which happens to also be Jhailyn Ortiz' team. Hopefully something rubs off on Jhailyn because he might be protecting Albert in the lineup.

bkox 2021-10-28 19:37:54 UTC #105

Wonder if this means Albert plans to play next year or if this is his way of saying goodbye by playing in his home country

andyb 2021-10-31 15:37:56 UTC #106

Ortiz unfortunately not playing every day in the Dominican (though note it is rare for prospects to do so as it is an older league generally than Venezuela and some others). 0-4 with a SF in his one start and then one pinch hit at bat in the other 3 games. 0-5 so far.

If he is not going to start 50% of the time they should have figured out how to get a waiver for him to be in Arizona like Muzziotti.

andyb 2021-11-05 17:32:28 UTC #107

Rafael Marchan hits his first professional home run outside of the major leagues for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan league. Only 1-7 with a BB and HBP in 9 plate appearances, but this should be a good test for him.

bkox 2021-11-06 15:22:50 UTC #108

Austinfan 2021-11-06 16:14:59 UTC #109

Well, until Garcia is ready.

Stott is probably one of those athletes who can stay at SS until his late 20s, but as soon as he loses a step or two, it's 3B (if he has the arm, it's easier to find 2B b/c you can move guys with good hands but weaker arms).

So you plug him in for 2-3 years while grooming a "true" SS.

zambonir 2021-11-06 16:34:56 UTC #110

In that very story:

Stott played some second base in the minors this season and has played two games at third within the last week in Arizona.