Bubbling Under: Phillies: Minor Leaguers Closest to Reaching the major leagues

[philliesfiend55]

*Bubbling Under: Phillies Minor Leaguers closest to Reaching the major leagues.

Bubbing Under - as in Bubbling Under the top 100 in the old Billboard Singles weekly sales charts. (Yes, I'm talking about the days of vinyl 45s and mentioning this is definitely dating myself.).

Top Phillies Prospects in the minor leagues who are closest to reaching the major leagues.

+ Play in 2017 has helped he player get closer to his goal of reaching the major leagues.
= Neutral: Player may or may not have helped his chances of reaching the major leagues with his play in 2017
- Player has hurt his chances of reaching the major leagues soon based on his play in 2017.

J.P. Crawford SS -
*Jake Thompson P =
Mark Appel P =
*Jorge Alfaro C +
**Pat Venditte P +
Nick Williams OF +
Dylan Cozens OF +
Cameron Perkins OF +
Rhys Hoskins 1B +
Scott Kingery 2B +
Hoby Milner P +
Tom Eshelman P +
Jesen Therrien P +

* Has previous major leagues experience with the Phillies.
** has previous major league experience, but not with the Phillies.

[philliesfiend55]

I'd like to see at least 8 of these 13 get to the majors with the Phillies sometime this season. Why not try out the kids? The current crew is obviously not working out..

[Steve Jeltz]

I'd like to add Reading OF Andrew Pullin to the list. Drafted in 2012, he made steady progress in rookie and A ball before having a breakout year in 2015 at Clearwater. Since being promoted to AA in 2016, he has hit around .300 and has some pop in his bat. I guess the main knock on Pullin is that he strikes out often.

On the pitching side at Reading, Drew Anderson and Brandon Leibrandt, Charlie Leibrandt's kid, are having good debut seasons at Reading. Probably a year or two way from being called up to the Phils, if everything pans out for them. Meaning, not getting injured.

Agree, lets bring some of these prospects up. Nothing to lose when you are 22-46.

[philliesfiend55]

Agree, lets bring some of these prospects up. Nothing to lose when you are 22-46.

First ones from the list were called up today: Cameron Perkins - OF and Hoby Milner - LHP. a pair of 26-year-olds get their first shots at the big leagues. . At that age they should be mature enough to handle the big leagues.
Fairly high-priced, poor performers, Michael Saunders - OF and Jeanmar Gomez - RHP reliever were released today (June 20).

Jerad Eickhoff is heading to the DL- They brought 1B - B. Stassi back up temporarily, but a new starting pitcher will be needed to fill Eickhoff's slot in the rotation in a few days.

[Steve Jeltz]

First ones from the list were called up today: Cameron Perkins - OF and Hoby Milner - LHP. a pair of 26-year-olds get their first shots at the big leagues. . At that age they should be mature enough to handle the big leagues.
Fairly high-priced, poor performers, Michael Saunders - OF and Jeanmar Gomez - RHP reliever were released today (June 20).

Jerad Eickhoff is heading to the DL- They brought 1B - B. Stassi back up temporarily, but a new starting pitcher will be needed to fill Eickhoff's slot in the rotation in a few days.

Gomez hasn't been getting the job done since the second half of last year. And Saunders parlayed a great first half with Toronto in 2016 into a $8 million dollar, free agent deal with the Phils. Fortunately, it was only a one year deal. Next, Klentak has to trade Hellickson, before his value sinks any lower, and Kendrick.

As far as the call ups, I would have preferred to see Hoskins or Williams called up before Perkins. Nothing against Perkins as he has put up decent numbers at Lehigh, but that is probably his ceiling. Don't have a problem with Milner since lefty relievers are usually converted starters who take awhile to adjust to being relievers. At least Milner can throw strikes.

[Steve Jeltz]

Thomas Eshelman will be getting the starting nod in the Triple A All Star Game.

[philliesfiend55]

Probably more players from the Phillies farm system will make their MLB debuts (possibly including Eshelman) In August after some players are moved at the 7/31 Trade Deadline.
Nick Williams had a nice 4 game hitting streak to start his MLB career. (6/30 - 7/3).