The Phillies are in a rebuilding phase, so a lot of focus is being put on their young talent in the minor leagues. In the offseason, Ruben Amaro dealt Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd to beef up the pitching prospects on the farm. Severino Gonzalez, Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin got to pitch for the big league club in spring training while Maikel Franco was sent to minor league camp after having some issues at the plate. The Phillies minor league teams, with the exception of short season, opened their 2015 campaigns last week, so let's see where the top 10 prospects stand in the early going:
- J.P. Crawford (Advanced A) - The Phillies top prospect has yet to play a game this season after suffering a strained left oblique in minor league camp back on March 24th. At the time, Phillies director of player development, Joe Jordan, said that it would be a month-long setback for the 20-year-old shortstop. The hope for Crawford is that he spends a good part of the 2015 season with Double-A Reading when he is healthy. Last season, he hit .285 with 11 homers, 48 RBIs and a .781 OPS in 123 games between Class 'A' Lakewood and Advanced 'A' Clearwater.
- Aaron Nola (AA) - Nola looked strong for the Phillies in his lone spring training outing, but struggled on Saturday for Reading against the Portland Sea Dogs. In 4.2 innings, the 21-year-old right-hander gave up four runs on five hits while hitting three batters, walking one and striking out two. His next start is likely to come when the Reading Fightin' Phils host the Richmond Flying Squirrels this upcoming weekend.
- Maikel Franco (AAA) - Franco struggled while up with the big club in spring training, looking anxious at the plate. In four games this far for the Ironpigs, Franco is hitting .263 (5-for-19) with four doubles, two RBI's, four walks and four strikeouts. In the Ironpigs most recent game on Sunday afternoon, Franco went 3-for-7 with two RBI's. Lehigh Valley hosts Syracuse for two more games before hitting the road for seven games.
- Zach Eflin (AA) - Eflin was another one of the Phillies young arms we got to see in spring training. Though he gave up a lead-off home run to Josh Harrison, he settled in nicely in his second and third innings of work. Eflin made his debut for Reading on Sunday afternoon in Portland and earned the win after tossing six shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out two.
- Tom Windle (AA) - Another member of the prospect-stacked Reading rotation, Windle took the hill for his first start in the Phillies organization against the New Hampshire Fishercats on Monday night. Though he gave up nine hits, Windle surrendered just one earned run on a solo homer while striking out four in six innings.
- Ben Lively (AA) - The Phillies acquired Lively in the Marlon Byrd trade with the Reds. The 23-year-old Pensacola, FL native posted a 13-7 record to go along with a 3.04 ERA last year between Advanced 'A' and Double-A. Lively will make his first start of the season tonight for Reading against the Fishercats.
- Roman Quinn (AA) - The speediest prospect the Phillies have on this list is Quinn by a long shot. The converted shortstop/center fielder is with Double-A Reading this year after playing 88 games for Advanced 'A' Clearwater in 2014. Through four games, Quinn is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a double, triple, home run, five runs scored and two RBI's.
- Carlos Tocci (Low 'A') - The 19-year-old Phillies prospect is beginning his season in Lakewood, where he spent all of his time last year. In 2014 with the Blueclaws, Tocci slashed .242/.297/.324 with 18 doubles, eight triples, two homers and 30 RBI's. Tocci also stole ten bags. In five games so far this season, Tocci is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with a double, three runs scored, four RBI's, five walks and three stolen bases.
- Aaron Brown (Advanced 'A') - Selected in the third round of the 2014 draft out of Pepperdine, Brown starts the year with Clearwater after splitting time with Lakewood and Williamsport in 2014. Brown hit .268 combined between his two teams last season and is off to a slow start for Clearwater. He's hitting .190 (4-for-21) with two doubles, one run scored and five strikeouts over the first five games.
- Matt Imhof (Advanced 'A') - Last year's second round pick for the Phillies was Matt Imhof out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After seeing action for the Gulf Coast Phillies, Williamsport and Lakewood last season, Imhof impressed enough to start 2015 with Clearwater. In 2014, he posted a 2.98 ERA over 42.1 innings over 11 starts. In his debut for the Threshers on April 9th, Imhof picthes five innings and gave up two runs on four hits.
Phillies Minor League Records
Class 'A' Lakewood – 3-2 (2nd place in SAL Northern Division)
Advanced 'A' Clearwater – 2-3 (Tied for 4th in FSL North Division)
Double 'A' Reading – 2-2 (3rd place in EL Eastern Division)
Triple 'A' Lehigh Valley – 1-4 (6th place in IL North Division)
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
