9/7/26 : News and Notes - just sayin

Roster Builds :

The evaluation of a developing baseball player is always subjective whether it be based upon data or observation - the wisest being a blend of both. It’s also an evolutionary review - game and practice experience sharpen the portrait of what a player is seemingly capable or incapable of doing. Those who base their evaluations on limited reviews are making short sighted opinions while those who do so on just a current point in time are discounting potential growth or even regression. It’s inexact and the ranking of both players and systems, in my opinion, is foolish fodder that is more inaccurate than true as compared to the consistent ongoing review of each individual’s efforts. Just sayin … however, it does sell subscriptions and create “experts”😎.

It’s also a misconception, for those that take it, that successful major league rosters require a “home grown” focus when in fact the current MLB average is 10 “homegrown” players per roster (FanGraphs data) and the only current playoff positioned team with 10 or more “homegrown” players are the Milwaukee Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Heralded “development organizations” like the Dodgers and Rays currently have just six “homegrown” players apiece on their current active roster. It reinforces the subjective evaluation of player development in that one of the most significant contributions of a development pipeline is provisioning “prospects” that can be traded to acquire supplemental talent to enhance the big league roster. In fact the current average of traded for players occupying active MLB rosters is also 10 (FanGraphs data) with vaunted development organizations like the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Rays leading the way with 17 apiece and five of the six current division leaders having 10 or more traded for players on their active roster (exception is Houston which has eight).

The other major piece of roster build is free agency - the Padres lead the way there with 13 free agent signings on their active roster however the current playoff positioned teams such as the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Cubs each have ten. The MLB average is six. (FanGraphs data)

Recent Homegrown Roster Impact :

The Phillies currently have eight “homegrown” players on their active MLB roster with LHP Christopher Sanchez arguably the ninth as his mix and moxy were developed while he was within in the Phillies organization. Of those, four are from the 2021 and 2022 drafts - Andrew Painter (first round) -‘21, Justin Crawford (1st round), Alex McFarlane (4th round), Orion Kerkering (5th round)- ‘22.

The 2022 draft/International signings class is shaping up to be a very impactful one - in addition to the three players already listed on the Phillies MLB roster Gabriel Rincones Jr (3rd round) and Otto Kemp (UDFA) have also already debuted in the majors, both are currently on the AAA Lehigh Valley roster. LHP Mavis Graves (6th round) and SS Bryan Rincon (14th round) are performing well for AA Reading seemingly on target for an eventual shot in the show and international signings 2B Aroon Escobar (he’s on a recent hot streak at Reading), SS Juan Villavicencio and UTL Nolan Beltran (both had strong years at Clearwater) are doing quite well.

Aligned with the theme of utilizing developing trade chips SS William Bergolla was also part of the 2022 class - he was traded to the White Sox to acquire LHP Tanner Banks and was doing well at the AAA level before incurring a season ending injury. Escobar, Villavicencio, Beltran and Bergolla are all just 21 years old. I don’t know of many organizations that have had recent draft/international signing classes that have popped five major leaguer’s debuts already with three still making everyday impact and another six with viable potential to reach the show.

In a recent article written by Bob Nightengale of USA Today Mr. Dombrowski stated that he’s never lacked prospects to discuss in trade talks while with the Phillies. That’s been proven over and again in the acquisitions made during his tenure. The 2022 class is a standout group that is set to continue providing that pipeline.

Btw there’s three from the Phillies 2021 class already in the majors (Andrew Painter, TJ Rumfield, Hao-Yu Lee) with a fourth (Reading’s Raylin Heredia) putting up league MVP type numbers at AA level Reading. The class of 2023 has already seen RHP George Klassen (traded for Carlos Estevez) reach the show with the Angels and has SS Aidan Miller (1st round - just returned to game action), RHP Marty Gair (13th round - traded to Giants for Luis Arraez), SS Starlyn Caba (traded to Marlins for Jesus Luzardo), Catcher Eduardo Tait (traded to Twins for Jhoan Duran) and RHP Brad Pacheco (strong season at Clearwater) as players that are projectable to reach the show.

Just sayin - the pipeline isn’t barren and has already provided major league talent both in stay at home development and acquisitions. That’s good stuff.

Shortstops galore :

The Dodgers are presently noted for having an abundance of outfielders in their development pipeline - perhaps the experts should take a look at the Phillies group of developing shortstops as well.

Twenty two year old Aidan Miller has always been and if recent good health prevails continues to be a strong candidate to play major league shortstop - yes he can switch to another position to accommodate roster build but he’s got all the tools to be an everyday shortstop and in my humble opinion will do that during his career. Twenty two year old Bryan Rincon has had a breakout season at Reading showcasing the tools of both speed and power (24 doubles, 23 HR’s, 29 SB’s) while maintaining his fielding prowess. Negative Nellies can point to the perceived opinion that the minor league baseball is juiced this season and perhaps it is wound tighter but the players still have to hit it and Rincon has made significant strides this summer regardless. Btw minor league baseballs have always been inconsistent every year I’ve written about player development.

Finishing the season at High A Jersey Shore was Juan Villavicencio - I wrote a spotlight article on him last week https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/9-3-26-spotlight-shortstop-juan-villavicencio.  At low A Clearwater 19 year old Matthew Ferrara (2025 9th round draft pick) posted a .285/.386/.357 slash line in the second half of the season in 58 games including hitting .305 in August in 82 AB’s. He had a .370 OBP for the season in 486 PA’s with 22 doubles, 6 HR’s, 80 runs scored, 60 RBIs and 36 stolen bases - those are some standout numbers for a first full season especially when he was a full two years younger than the Florida State League average age for position players. He’s got a boatload of potential. 2026 number one draft pick Tyler Spangler (18 years old) is seemingly set to follow in Ferrara’s footsteps next season at Clearwater - he’s already hit his first pro home run.

Then there is 17 year old Juan Parra who put up strong numbers in the Dominican Summer League in his first pro season (.295/.451/.437 in 247 PA’s) with 11 doubles, 4 HR’s and 29 RBIs. His offensive skillset reminds of Luis Arraez in that he can place the ball seemingly where he wants as a batter however he’s unlike Arraez in that he’s a patient hitter (48 walks).

That’s not to mention (oops guess I am) the spectacular start that 2026 10th round pick Reece Moroney (21 years old) has had at Clearwater to begin his pro career (.429/.518/.1.033 in 66 PA’s) with three doubles and a triple as icing on the shortstop cake.

Oh I forgot - according to the “experts” there’s no organizational depth - my bad.

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