On Friday the deadline to add players eligible for the Rule 5 draft to the 40 man roster comes to pass.
The Phillies have 53 minor league players eligible for the draft which will occur in December on the last day of the Winter Meetings. I provided the list of eligible players before but today I thought I’d expand a bit on the six players who likely merit the most serious consideration for roster addition. Keep in mind that any player selected in the Rule 5 Draft must be kept on the 26 man big league roster for the full season, that usually significantly discounts any player that hasn’t played at either the AA or AAA level.
SS/2B Luis Garcia is a no brainer to add to the 40 man roster. Although the highest level he’s played at is High A the 21 year old has big league talent and would very likely be chosen by another club if exposed to the draft. Luis is an outstanding fielder, in our opinion the best all-around ( hands, arm, range, savy ) middle infielder in the Phillies minor league system … a young Galvis like actions - also had a breakout ‘21 season in regards to driving the baseball with authority - hit 13 home runs, 18 doubles and 5 triples for Clearwater/Jersey Shore in 103 games ( 391 AB’s ), in addition he participated in Fall Instructs and had a very strong camp. We are very high on his abilities and see a major league future for him as a middle infield regular.
OF Jhailyn Ortiz had his best season in 2021 and deserves strong consideration for a 40 man roster spot. He led the Phillies minor league organization in home runs with 23 … drove in 54 runs and posted a .346 OBP … had an outstanding month of July hitting 13 home runs and posting a .289 batting average in 90 AB’s. Spent the majority of the summer with Jersey Shore before being promoted to Reading on July 31st. Has easy power that drives the baseball long distances.
RHP James McArthur was sent to the Arizona Fall League after the season concluded. He pitched what was likely his final outing on Monday going four innings in a start allowing a run on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters. He struck out 18 batters in 16 2/3 IP over five games in the AFL. James features a fastball that can register in the mid to upper nineties, generally sits in the 93-95 range. His 6’7” height produces a pitch release point and arm angle that gets on the hitter quickly and adds deception as well as an elusion of even higher velocity. Secondary offerings are a curve/slider and change-up. He finished the ‘21 regular season strong with Reading by posting a 2.70 ERA in his last seven games ( 33 1/3 IP ). The 24 year old could be someone that another team would select if not protected on the 40 man roster.
RHP Colton Eastman suffered a broken finger attempting to bunt in a Reading game on June 11th. He returned to action on August 14th and pitched very well ( 2.70 ERA in 4 games - 10 IP ) earning a promotion to Lehigh Valley on September 7th where he continued to pitch well ( 3.00 ERA in 4 starts - 21 IP ). He’s shown very good command and control in his career to date with a four pitch mix, solid starter with fastball sitting low nineties. The 25 year old from Cal State Fullerton is a command pitcher akin to former Phillie Connor Seabold ( also a Cal State Fullerton alum ) … if he hadn’t suffered the injury he just may have positioned himself for big league consideration. Some team may just afford him a shot this spring if he’s not protected.
RHP Cristian Hernandez had a strong 2021 season as part of the Clearwater Threshers rotation. He recorded 94 K’s in 75 2/3 IP ( 11.18 K/9 ) and posted a 3.57 ERA in 20 games. He has a three pitch mix with the fastball sitting 94-95 and a curve and changeup. He missed time when the Clearwater roster suffered a Covid outbreak and finished the year in the FCL on rehab, we also saw him briefly in Fall Instructs. While he’s got a big league projection the fact that the 21 year old hasn’t pitched above the Low A level might insulate him from being taken in this year’s draft.
LHP Ethan Lindow broke ‘21 camp with Reading but struggled to find consistency and was transferred to Jersey Shore on June 8th where he put up decent numbers - 3.21 ERA in 12 games ( 67 1/3 IP ), he had an outstanding month of July posting a 1.55 ERA in 29 IP with 24 K’s and only 5 walks and didn’t yield a run in his last three July starts ( 18 IP ). He went on the injured list on August 20th with elbow issues and finished the year with the rehab team during Fall Instructs in Clearwater. When he’s going well Ethan is the ultimate control and command hurler who has strikeout stuff, very strong secondary offerings. Velocity generally sits lower nineties … the movement on his deliveries is very good. Was the winner of the 2019 Paul Owens Award when he posted a 2.52 ERA in 110 2/3 IP at the A level of play. He’s 23 years old and a lefty, some team may be willing to afford him a chance if not protected but then again may have pause since he spent the majority of the season at High A.
Other First time eligible players :
Hsin-Chieh Lin, RHP - highest level of play - Low A
Ben Brown, RHP - highest level of play - High A
Oscar Gonzalez, C - highest level of play - AA
Carlos Betancourt, RHP - highest level of play - FCL
Nick Matera, C - highest level of play - AA
Keylan Killgore, LHP - highest level of play - High A
Tom Sutera, RHP - highest level of play - High A
Tyler McKay, RHP - highest level of play - High A
Mark Potter, RHP - highest level of play - High A
Jonas De La Cruz, RHP - highest level of play - High A
D.J. Stewart, 1B/3B - highest level of play - High A
Gabriel Yanez, LHP - highest level of play - High A
Carlos De La Cruz, OF - highest level of play - High A
Victor Vargas, RHP - highest level of play - High A
Ethan Evanko, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
Jack Perkins, RHP - highest level of play - AAA
Austin Ross, RHP - highest level of play - AAA
Taylor Lehman, LHP - highest level of play - AA
Madison Stokes, IF - highest level of play - AA
Tyler Carr, RHP - highest level of play - AA
Luke Miller, 3B - highest level of play - AA
Matt Kroon, 3B - highest level of play - AA
Jack Conley, - highest level of play - AAA
Players who remain eligible from prior seasons :
Zach Warren, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
Jakob Hernandez, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
David Parkinson, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
Josh Stephen, LF - highest level of play - AAA
Andrew Brown, RHP - highest level of play - AA
Colby Fitch, C - highest level of play - AA
Braeden Ogle, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
Dalton Guthrie, SS - highest level of play - AAA
Jhordany Mezquita, LHP - highest level of play - AA
Juan Aparacio, C - highest level of play - Low A
Leonel Aponte, RHP - highest level of play - Low A
Nicolas Torres, INF - highest level of play - High A
Jose Tortolero, INF - highest level of play - High A
Edgar Made, SS - highest level of play - Low A
Manuel Silva, LHP - highest level of play - High A
Jonathan Guzman, SS - highest level of play - High A
Ben Pelletier, RF - highest level of play - High A
Mark Appel, RHP - highest level of play - AAA
Trevor Bettencourt, RHP - highest level of play - AA
Jeff Singer, LHP - highest level of play - AAA
Darick Hall, 1B - highest level of play - AAA
Joel Cesar, RHP - highest level of play - AA
Julian Garcia, RHP - highest level of play - AAA
Jonathan Hennigan, LHP - highest level of play - AA
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