After losing out on Rusney Castillo to the Red Sox, the Phillies look to be eyeing another top prospect from the nation of Cuba. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly is reporting that the Phillies have legitimate interest in slugging outfielder, Yasmani Tomas. Tomas will be having an open workout for MLB teams this Sunday and you can bet the Phillies scouts will be attending.
With the Phillies looking for young, middle of the order, outfield help, Tomas very well could be their man. At the age of 23, Tomas is entering his prime. Baseball America lists Tomas at 6’1” 230lbs. They also list his raw power at 70 on a scale of 20 to 80, from the right side of the plate. With slugger Jose Abreu already with the White Sox this season, Tomas is the second best power hitter left in Cuba, behind Alfredo Despaigne. Tomas has some center field experience, but projects a corner outfielder with average to below average speed.
Tomas was also one of the youngest players on the Cuban national team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In the tournament, Tomas went 6 for 16 (.412) with two home runs, a double, one walk, and four strikeouts. He was also ranked the sixth best prospect in the tournament. That came one year after Tomas had a breakout year, batting .301/.340/.580 with 16 homers in 240 plate appearances over 69 games.
The World Baseball Classic is expose that Tomas did have trouble with good velocity up and soft stuff in and out of the zone. Though it is possible for Tomas to go straight to the big leagues, there is a better chance Tomas starts in Triple AAA in order to get use to play in the United States.
With the Red Sox signing Rusney Castillo, 27, for seven years, $72.5 million, one can only expect whomever Tomas signs with the bidding is expected to top $100 million. Despite the lofty price tag, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe expect the Phillies will go hard after Tomas as well.
Andrew Shipotofsky is a writer for Philliedelphia.
