2 Years From Today: Who Has a chance to be a Phillie in the next 2 Calendar Years.

[philliesfiend55]

I am being very liberal in my selections of Phils' minor league players that possibly might appear in regular season Phillies games anytime form now through June 10, 2014 - Two years from today. Excluded from the list are those who have had any big league experience with the Phiilies, no matter how briefly, such as Domonic Brown and Justin De Fratus.

Clasification levels have been updated.

Lehigh Valley (Allentown,PA) - International League

Pitchers:

(starters)
Tyler Cloyd
Scott Elarton

(relievers)
Jeremy Horst (Phillies Debut: 6/28/12).
Philippe Aumont (PHILLIES & MLB DEBUT: 8/23/12).
J.C. Ramirez
Tyson Brummett

Position Players

Cody Overbeck (1B-3B)
Kevin Fransden (2b-SS) (Phillies Debut: 7/29/12.)
Derrick Mitchell (OF)
Steve Susdorf (OF)
Kyle Hudson (OF)
Mike Spidale (OF)
Tug Hulett (INF)
John Suomi (C)
Tuffy Gosewich (C)
Jason Pridie (OF) (Phillies Debut: 7/1/12)

AA - Reading (PA) - Eastern League

Pitchers

starters
Trevor May
Julio Rodriguez
David Buchanan
Jonathan Pettibone

relievers
Justin Friend (now with AAA - Lehigh Valley - 7/12)
Jordan Whatcott
Lisalberto Bonilla
Mike Cisco (now with AAA - Lehigh Valley - 7/12)

Position Players

Sebastian Valle (C) Now with AAA Lehigh Valley - 8/2
Tyson Gillies (OF)
Darin Ruf (1B)
Leandro Castro (OF)
Jiwan James (OF)
Cesar Hernandez (2B) now with AAA Lehigh Valley - 8/2
Miguel Abreu (INF)
Troy Hanzawa (INF)

High A - Clearwater (FL) - Florida State League

Pitchers
starters
Brody Colvin (promoted to AA as of 8/10)
Jesse Biddle

Position Players
Cody Asche (3B). (Promoted to AA - 6/25)

Additional Top Prospects Acquired from Other Organizations:

Ethan Martin - P - (AA) - Acq. from LA Dodgers - 7/31/12
Tommy Joseph - C -(AA) - Acq. from SF Giants - 7/31/12.

[Ben Grimm]

Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan was in Williamsport last week 7/23 and did an interview about the system. I cut out the stuff regarding the draft, but to read the entire thing, go here.

- ON POTENTIAL BIG LEAGUE HELP IN READING

"I think that there’s a handful – it’s not a large number – but I think there are a lot of players on that club that are going to be Major League players. Some of them are just going to need a couple more years. There’s a handful of guys, whether it’s sometime in (2013) or early in (2014), there’s some guys that will help out."

- ON OUTFIELDER LEANDRO CASTRO

"I think what we’ve seen from Leandro this year, is early he played out of control a little bit. Went through a period where he made some really good adjustments and slowed the game down and took what the game gave him and didn’t force it. That’s really the stuff that he’s going to have to do because he has the ability to play all three outfield spots. He can hit, he can run, he can throw. He can do everything physically that you need to be able to do to be a Major League player. It’s just a matter of playing under control, playing smart. Again, what is the game giving me tonight? That’s what I’m going to take and I’m not going to try to force anything else. He’s getting there, made a lot of progress this year."

- ON DARIN RUF IN LEFT FIELD

"We’re going to try to do it enough to get a good look. We’re going to get a good feel if he can do it because we think the bat is going to be a Major League bat. We’ve obviously got a cornerstone player in the Major Leagues at first base, so we obviously want to explore all of the options for Darin."

- ON CODY ASCHE’S ASCENT THIS YEAR

"I think if (Cody Asche of 2011) was the player we had seen in spring training and the first three months in Clearwater, yeah, we’d be surprised. Again, he played last summer and the organization got a read on him last summer and what he needed to work on in instructional league. They did no address it until instricutional league, but they did it then. It was a simple pre-swing adjustment that they did, he took it home and worked on it and hit basically almost .350 in three months in the Florida State League. We felt like he could handle it. He’s playing a very good third base, which he didn’t play here last summer. He’s a different player. Things came together. So no, I’m not surprised because I’m the one that moved him."

- ON ASCHE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN READING

"They are going to turn around and they’ve started. This is the way I look at development: when the challenge of a level is losing its luster, I felt like there were adjustments he needed to make hitting .350 in the Florida State League. It’s hard to approach a player about making adjustments when things are going that well. He needed the feedback that AA gave him, which was pretty hard there for two or three weeks. But, everyone told me he’s very strong mentally, he handled the struggles he had here last summer and didn’t give in to it. So we made a decision that even if he does struggle, he’s mentally tough enough to handle it, but even more importantly he needs to struggle so we can bring some things to him that’s going to make him better down the road. And that’s exactly what happened. Hopefully he keeps on this upward trend he’s on."

- ON PROSPECTS IN WILLIAMSPORT

"I saw them all as amateurs, so I’ve got a perspective that I know where they came from. They’re very exciting. Roman Quinn has the ability to impact the game every night because of his speed. He’s going to learn shortstop and is going to be a good, good, good Major League player. Larry is going to be a game-changer, I really believe that. He’s going to be a guy that one swing a night can change a ball game. He’s a better hitter than maybe we thought. He’s going to take his hits to the left side of the infield. And Walding, Mitch is a very high strung young man. If you just break him down tools-wise, which is what I do as a scout, he’s got the ability to hit, he’s going to have power, he can throw, he works his butt off defensively. Takes as much pride in his defense as his offense. All three have a chance to be really good players. Serritella, out of this draft, I’ve been really impressed with him because I’ve seen him hit the ball a long way to the pull side. And with two strikes about three times in four games I’ve seen him take hits to the left side. So for me, there’s some hit ability there. It’s a good group. Some of them haven’t gotten to see as much. It’s a good group, a very exciting group, and there’s going to be some Major League players on this team."

- ON LARRY GREENE JR’S PLATE DISCIPLINE

"I don’t know that it was a question, but I’ve been very impressed with his willingness to take pitches and get deep into at-bats. It’s a really, really good sign for a guy that has that kind of an impact when he swings. It’s a good sign from a 19-year old hitter."

- ON ROMAN QUINN STICKING AT SHORTSTOP

"I have no question. None. Zero. He’s come a thousand miles from spring training. Two years from now I think we have the chance to have a fantastic defensive player. I saw him play center field in high school and this is the first full year he’s had to play short. He has every physical ability you need. If you watch the athletic plays, those are easy for him. It’s when the ball is right at him and he has time, he’s not comfortable for that right now. He made about three athletic plays (Sunday) night that were really good plays, but those are easy because he’s just reacting and that’s the athlete. But when he’s got to set everything and get lined up and move his feet, that’s when he scatters throws a little bit, and that’ll come. The game is going to slow down, it has slowed down since camp. I’m willing to watch it. I think Jeter made 50-some errors his first year."

- ON TALENT IN LOWER LEVELS

"They’re here. It’s our job to develop them and keep them positive. They’re going to have struggles. This 19-year old group here can’t beat some of these 22 and 23-year old college teams they play. That’s OK. They’re going to get better. I think August will be a better month than July, but I’m very excited. This is a good group, a very exciting group to watch."

[Ben Grimm]

An update on Darin Ruf by John Sickels...

Minor League Prospect Note: Darin Ruf, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies first base prospect Darin Ruf is on a power tear for the Double-A Reading Phillies, homering in his fifth-straight game last night.

He's hitting .362/.422/.966 in August, including a .405/.444/1.024 in his last 10 games. Overall, he's hitting .313/.404/.596 this year, with 29 homers, 29 doubles, 57 walks, and 87 strikeouts in 418 at-bats. His 1.000 OPS ranks first in the pitching-oriented Eastern League by a wide margin, 139 points over his nearest competitor.

Ruf is a 6-3, 200 pound right-handed hitter and thrower, born July 28th, 1986. He was drafted in the 20th round in 2009 from Creighton University in Omaha. He's not toolsy and is already 26, but he's been an effective hitter at every level (he hit .308/.388/.506 in the difficult Florida State League last year) and on meritocratic grounds, he deserves to move up.

The problem is finding a position for him: he lacks the speed to play outfield, and while he's reliable at first base in terms of avoiding errors, he lacks range. His arm isn't bad; he's actually pitched a couple of times, but the lack of mobility is a big issue. There is also the little problem of being blocked in Philadelphia by Ryan Howard.

Ruf is old for a prospect at age 26, but I've been watching him since college and I think he has real juice in his bat. His biggest problem will be finding an opportunity, especially in an age of huge pitching staffs that make it harder for decent-but-not-star-caliber corner bats to find steady employment.

[philliesfiend55]

Cody Asche's ascent has been the most dramatic of all.
13 months earlier he had been completing his college baseball career at Univ. of Nebraska but by June 30, his 22nd birthday, he had moved all the way up to AA-Reading- Eastern League.
He seemed overmatched at first but has adjusted and should finish his portion of the year in AA with a more than decent batting average. Plus he's delivered some clutch hits at the higher level too..

[Ben Grimm]

The only two things I'd like to see with Asch is an improved pitch selection to get a better BB/K rate, but that's not too bad. What he really needs to do is get better playing 3B. He just had his 11th error in his 50th game while in Reading - his 18th overall this season. He's got to get the mistakes down, but I haven't actually seen him play so I don't know if it's his fielding, throwing or both. Franco intrigues me a bit more. I like his power potential better and he could be in AA as a 20 year old late next year if things work right. I'm wondring if Asche will end up playing a different position - like 2B in place of Utley in 2014. I think I'd actually prefer him there.

[philliesfiend55]

I was just going to write that Asche had made another error but you beat me to it. His fielding is still a bit raw at this stage. Howeve, the Phillies, or any organization, will be patient with him because of his big upside with the bat. He went 3 for 5 tonight to raise his average at Reading to.278 (a level no one ever thought he's reach after his first three or four weeks after being promoted to AA). His first month at Reading was pretty brutal.

[philliesfiend55]

I'm starting to think that if anyone gets promoted to the Phillies before Ssept. 1, it will be Phillippe Aumont, not.Cloyd.
H's reduced his earned run average to 3.59 after it was two runs per game higher than that about 2 or 3 months ago.....and he's striking out almost 13 batters per 9 innings.
There's definitely an urgent need for some bullpen help as the Phillies 'Pen blew another game today. This time the culprit was J. Lindblom.
By the way: The Phiilies collapse against the Brewers tonight made a winner out of Livan Hernandez, whose lifetime record edged over the.500 mark at 178-177. Hernandez pitched an effective eighth inning striking out two of the three batters he retired. Corey haRT'S GLAND SLAM IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH MADE hERNANDEZ AND THE bREWERS WINNERS.

[Ben Grimm]

I'm starting to think that if anyone gets promoted to the Phillies before Ssept. 1, it will be Phillippe Aumont, not.Cloyd.
H's reduced his earned run average to 3.59 after it was two runs per game higher than that about 2 or 3 months ago.....and he's striking out almost 13 batters per 9 innings.

Yeah I can see that as a possibility. That trade sending Cliff Lee to Seattle just looks worse and worse with each passing year. What was hoped to be possibly two starters and future CFer, now looks to be "at best" a set-up pitcher, a mop-up arm and a 4th or 5th OFer. I still have faith in Aumont since he's got a pretty live arm. But he's got to keep the baserunners off the paths - a 1.5+ WHIP in the minors does not translate well in MLB.

Quick update on Ruf: The boss said he'll remain in Reading until the end of the season. I fully expect him to be worked out this offseason in LF and show up in Clearwater next February. His power is much needed next year and comes with a very small price tag. Don't let him languish in the minors. Latest report has him as below-average range, average arm and will pull in any balls near him. Sounds like guys like Burrell and Ibanez which was fine since their offense would overcome their defensive deficiencies. Even Pierre's done okay out there with a below-average arm and taking bad angle to balls. This team has the rotation. They need some power in the lineup in some key spots and bullpen depth with a limited budget to work with. Time to get a bit creative and utilize what in-house pieces are available before giving up another 3-5 year deal to a 30+ year old veteran.

[philliesfiend55]

No home runs for the last 3 games from Darin Ruf, but what a streak he had going! - 11 home runs in 13 games and home runs in five straight games. He increased his HR total for the season from a decent 18 to a robust 29. I understand that he's taken very well to an attempt to convert him to a leftfielder and played most of those games during the power streak in LF. That could be his ticket to the major leagues, with his progress obviously blocked at 1B by Ryan Howard. Since the Phillies are not utilizing the maximum spots on their 40 man roster (they were three below max. at 37 the last ime I checked) it's quite possible that Ruf could be added to the 40 man roster and brought up to the Phillies in September.

[Ben Grimm]

Ruf starting a new streak. He went yard today for his 30th of the season. Cody Asche also hit his 7th of the season today.

[Ben Grimm]

Some things from Reading today...

Cody Asche went 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Darin Ruf went 2-4, HR & RBI

Justin Friend got his 20th save. His ERA is hanging at a stellar 0.26. His ERA was high in AAA, but seeing as he was used quite often in mid-relief as opposed to a closer, that might have been the reason. Even the best closers in MLB have their worst showings when not in high-pressure situations.

Brody Colvin mashed again. He actually improved his ERA to 9.25, but it wasn't pretty at all. 12 baserunners in a 5-inning performance and zero strikeouts. He needs to show something at this level to be considered a top-10 prospect for this franchise this offseason.

[philliesfiend55]

Wh oAre most" Major League-Ready" for September Callups

Narrowing down the original list to a dozen - Pick the five players who are the most "major league-ready" and whom the Phillies are most likely to recall this September.

AAA Starting Pitchers:
Tyler Cloyd
Jon Pettibone

AAA Relief Pitchers:
J.C. Ramirez
Mike Cisco

AAA Position Players:
Cesar Hernandez (SS/2B)
Sebastian Valle (C)
Cody Overbeck (1B)
Steve Susdorf (OF)
Kyle Hudson (OF)

AA Position Players:

Darin Ruf (OF)
Cody Asche (3B)

AA Pitchers:
Ethan Martin


Pick Your Top 5!

[Ben Grimm]

I actually have six I wouldn't mind seeing.

Tyler Knigge
Justin Friend
Tyler Cloyd
Cody Asche
Darin Ruf
Cesar Hernandez

[Ben Grimm]

Ruf hit his 33rd last night - a 400 ft. grand slam to left field. It's his 15 dinger for the month of August.

[philliesfiend55]

Unexpected Roster Move - Ruf Keeps exceeding Expectations.

Smoking! Ruf is really "En Fuego" as Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman used to like to say.
They've got to be keeping him at AA Reading just to increase that team's chances of making the playoffs. Talent-wise he's clearly too good for the Eastern League.
The Phillies threw my list of the most major league ready players a curve ball today "practically before the ink was dry" when they called up catcher Steven Lerud from AA. Brian Schneider goes on the DL.
Both of the major league catchers they opened the season with are now disabled, although Eric Kratz has done a very creditable job lately.
Funny thing is that this would have been a good situation for Tuffy Gosewich, who had been in the Phillies organization for eight years without reaching he majors, but he was recently traded to Toronto. The Front Office bypassed both AAA catchers Sebastain Valle & John Suomi in reaching down to AA for Lerud. Lerud is supposed to be a good defensive catcher and I suppose Lerud will get in some games because Eric Kratz can't catch every inning of every game - can he?