The Phillies have signed ten Un-Drafted pitchers in the past ten days or so with perhaps more player signings on the horizon. Coupled with the four draft 2020 draft selections at least thirteen new players will be added to the group vying for jobs when play resumes.
I’ve been following the Phillies minor leagues intently since my retirement in 2015, some say over-intense may be a better word 🤦♂️🥴. During that time there have been multiple Un-Drafted Free Agent signings. It’s my observance that the Phillies Development team takes no quarter in the attention they give to each player, an individual development plan is made and there’s quite a bit of follow up with coaches, video and analytics support personnel and the coordinators ... each player is given a shot at success.
That being said here’s some of the Phillies UDFA’s I continue to follow that were signed or were active in the Phillies system when I became a “Player Advocate” back in 2015 🤓 ...
Josh Taylor ( 27 years old ) - LHP - signed 8/12/2014 out of Georgia College - played in 3 games with the 2014 GCL Phillies and in 24 games with Lakewood in 2015 before being traded to the Diamondbacks on 7/5/2015. Arizona traded him to the Boston Red Sox on May 15th, 2018. He made his major league debut with Boston in 2019 and pitched in 52 games posting a 3.04 ERA in 47.1 IP with 62 K’s
Jacob Waguespack ( 26 years old ) - RHP - signed 6/22/2015 out of Ole Miss - pitched in 114 games as a Phillies minor leaguer reaching AAA Lehigh Valley in 2018 where he pitched 14 games ... was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on 7/31/2018 for LHP Aaron Loup. Jacob made his major league debut in 2019 with the Blue Jays and posted a 5-5 record with a 4.38 ERA in 16 games ( 13 starts ) in 78 IP.
Jeff Singer ( 26 years old ) - LHP - signed 10/15/2015 out of Rutgers - Camden - has pitched in 158 minor league games with the Phillies posting a 15-11 record with 39 saves and a 2.89 ERA in 218.1 IP ... has also pitched in big league ST games each of the last two seasons. Last year he went 7-0 with a 2.34 ERA in 42 games ( 61.2 IP) at Reading. From this observer’s view he’s gonna pitch in the major leagues.
Carlos De La Cruz ( 20 years old ) - OF - signed 8/23/2017 out of Yonkers, NY - has played in 160 games over the past two seasons with the 2018 GCL Phillies East and last season in Lakewood ( 117 games ) as a 19 year old where the league average age was 2 1/2 years older. Carlos has big time power, the ball explodes off his bat ... he’s hit 13 home runs thus far in his brief career but there’s plenty more there ... is also a very good defender - was likely slated to see extensive time in center field for the 2020 Threshers before the pandemic - has all the tools to become a very productive big leaguer.
Taylor Lehman ( 24 years old ) - LHP - signed 6/18/2018 out of Penn State - has pitched in 27 minor league games ( 8 starts ) with a 3.68 ERA in 66 IP. He spent 2018 with Phillies East in the GCL and split 2019 between Williamsport and Lakewood - 2.55 ERA in 49.1 IP - he’s 6’8” ... FB sits low 90’s but can get to middle 90’s range .... curve and change up are secondary offerings - also perhaps slated for 2020 CW before the pandemic
Ethan Evanko ( 25 years old ) - LHP - signed 6/19/2018 out of Grand Canyon University - has pitched in 33 minor league games posting a 9-4 record with a 1.98 ERA in 95.1 IP ... Ethan was moved to the starting rotation after being promoted in May of 2019 to Clearwater and was 5-2 in 9 starts ( 67 IP ) with a 1.49 ERA. Prior to that he had successful stints with Phillies West, Williamsport and Lakewood. Three pitch mix with a lot of downward tilt ... big breaking curve
Tom Sutera ( 23 years old ) - RHP - signed 7/27/2018 out of Siena University - has pitched in 19 minor league games with a 2.91 ERA in 55.2 IP ... started in the GCL with Phillies West in 2018 and split 2019 with Williamsport and Lakewood. I’ve yet to see him pitch in person but have heard good things ... he’s made six starts which is a bit different - was used as a reliever in 44 of his 46 appearances at Siena - was likely targeted for Clearwater before the pandemic.
Sal Gozzo ( 22 years old ) - SS - signed 6/11/2019 out of Tulane University - spent the year in GCL with Phillies West playing in 39 games accumulating 129 AB’s ... looks solid defensively and showed flashes of offensive punch ... need to see more
Tyler Burch ( 22 years old ) - RHP - signed 6/12/2019 out of Lewis-Clark State College - went 4-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 12 games ( 4 starts ) between Phillies West ( 1 game - finished a no hitter tossing 9th inning ) and Williamsport ( 1.56 ERA in 34.2 IP with 32 K’s and only 6 walks ) - we saw him a couple times including in Fall Instructs - mid 90’s FB with two effective off speed deliveries - has a chance to be a very good starting pitcher or multi inning reliever - big arm capabilities
Riley Wilson ( 23 years old ) - LHP - signed 6/12/2019 out of the University of Virginia - pitched in 14 games ( 21.2 IP ) with a 2.91 ERA and 2 saves with 21 K’s and 5 BB for Phillies West in the GCL - side winding lefty who’s used to backend bullpen role as was closer for UVA - had solid first pro season
Connor Hinchliffe ( 23 years old ) - RHP - signed 6/12/2019 out of La Salle University in Philadelphia - posted a 1.82 ERA in 16 games ( 24.2 IP ) with a 1-1 record and 1 save - punched out 17 batters but walked 17 as well with Phillies West in GCL play - another with a closer’s mentality - his role at La Salle - is relatively new to pitching having switched to the role in his later college years after being a catcher/outfielder ... we saw him a few times ... ball moves with deception out of the hand - was eager to see him this spring as had worked with Driveline and velocity was up - anxious to see more - we think he can do quite well
Aidan Anderson ( 23 years old ) - RHP - signed 6/18/2019 out of McNeese State University - pitched in 15 games with Phillies West in the GCL posting a 3-0 record and a 3.86 ERA with 2 saves in 25.2 IP - 19 K’s and 13 BB - has a live arm and very good secondaries - change up and sharp breaking curve/slider - it’s my belief he would have pushed for a Lakewood spot in ST but the pandemic had other plans
Albertus Barber ( 24 years old ) - RHP - signed 6/23/2019 out of Oklahoma Baptist University - pitched in 17 games last summer between GCL Phillies East, Williamsport and Lakewood and posted an outstanding 0.88 ERA in 20.2 IP including gong 4-0 with the BlueClaws with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 11 games ( 12.1 IP ) ... outstanding work ethic and tremendous drive - capable of mid to upper 90’s velocity as a back of pen option - keep the name in mind - won’t ever give up - great competitor
Brenden Kudlinski ( 21 years old ) - LHP - signed 6/23/2019 out of Central Florida University - went 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 11 games ( 14 IP ) with 1 save and 16 K’s ... I saw his first bullpen at the Complex and he had a disoriented delivery ... next time I saw him that had been completely cleaned up - power arm tools - we need to see more but tools are there
DJ Jefferson ( 19 years old ) - RHP - signed 7/2/2019 out of Desert Oasis High School, Las Vegas, NV - only pitched in 5 games with GCL Phillies East posting a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 IP .... we got to watch him three times - big arm capabilities with tailing run on the FB ... appears capable of dominating hitters - obviously need to see more but like what we’ve seen thus far 👍💪
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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