An inside look at the Phillies top prospects.
(MLBPipeline lists the top 30 prospects on each team’s website. While biding time waiting for baseball to resume, Steve Potter will provide his views of these young players. A Clearwater resident, his passion is seeing and following these prospects in person. Normally, Spectrum Field and Carpenter Complex are his second homes. His 4th Annual Phillies Minor League Digest is on sale at www.amazon.com.)
LHP David Parkinson
Phillies #20 prospect according to MLB.com … 24 years old … 2017 12th round selection out of the University of Mississippi
David had an outstanding 2018 season when he went 11-1 and posted a 1.45 ERA in 124 1/3 IP between Lakewood and Clearwater ... he was selected that season’s Paul Owens Award winner.
I remember watching him the following spring in a live BP session on Ashburn Field where he was so precise and in command of his pitches that even the home plate umpire remarked “Wow - that was incredible” - never saw that before or since 😳
David has a four pitch mix with the changeup being his best secondary offering ... he often hits 94 on the radar with the heater and word is that had ticked up a bit this spring - his biggest assets are determination, competitiveness and command - he can carve up an opposing batter when he’s on.
Projection : I was really looking forward to seeing David this spring work with the AAA grouping, he spent the entire summer last year at Reading and is ready for the next level. Parkinson got into a big league ST game this year against the Pirates and threw a shutout inning. In my opinion he’s very capable of being a formidable big league starter - he is a skilled student of the art of pitching - when coupled with command, mid 90’s capabilities and mix he’s certainly got what it takes to perform in the show.
