July 29th has been a very hectic day for the Phillies in recent past. They got Cliff Lee from Cleveland on the 29th in 2009, acquired Roy Oswalt & Hunter Pence from Houston on the 29th in 2010 and 2011, respectively. On July 29th, 2015, the Phillies traded their homegrown southpaw, Cole Hamels, to the Rangers along with Jake Diekman and $9.5 million. In return, the Phillies got six players, three of which comprised spots in Texas' top five prospects as ranked by Baseball America.
The Phillies got five prospects in exchange for Hamels, most notably top prospects Jake Thompson, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro. Minor league arms Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher were also included in the deal.
Let's start with Thompson, a 21-year-old right-hander, drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Tigers. When he came out of high school in 2012, he was regarded highly as a power-hitting first baseman. The Tigers drafted him and found that his calling was on the mound. He was flipped to Texas for Joakim Soria in 2014. Ranked as the best prospect in the Rangers organization, Thompson projects to become a strong number three starter and even a solid number two. 2013 was his first full season in minor league ball and he went 3-3 with a 3.13 ERA for Detroit's Class 'A' affiliate. In 2013, He went 6-4 with a 3.14 ERA in High 'A' ball over 16 starts before posting 2.45 ERA with the Tigers Double-A club before being traded. He finished out the year in Double-A with Texas, going 3-1 with a 3.28 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a .219 average against him. This season in Double-A, Thompson is 6-6 with a 4.72 ERA. He's struggled over his last three starts, giving up a combined 15 runs in 13 2/3 innings. Here's his scouting report:
Thompson usually throws his fastball at 90-93 mph, peaking at 95 and featuring sinking life. That's not even his best weapon, however, as that distinction belongs to a slider that can reach 87 mph with depth and qualify as a true wipeout pitch at times. He also uses a curveball and changeup, both of which show flashes of becoming solid-or-better offerings.
Thompson has a classic starter's build that should give him durability and allows him to pitch on a tough downhill plane. He throws a decent amount of strikes but still is refining his command. He's a good bet to become a No. 3 starter and has a chance to become a No. 2. [MLB.com]
In what could be the most exciting prospect of the deal, the Phillies got outfielder Nick Williams, who was selected in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft by the Rangers. This season in Double-A, Williams is hitting .299 with 21 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs and 45 RBI's. Over his last 10 games, he's hit .341 (14-for-41) with four doubles, two homers and five RBI's. The 21-year-old is a career .294 hitter in four minor league seasons. Williams' offensive upside is very intriguing and has the ability to play all three outfield positions. Here is Williams scouting report:
Williams' lightning-fast hands and his strength allow him to drive almost any pitch he can reach. After swinging at just about every pitch that didn't bounce — and some that did — during his first three pro seasons, he has made impressive strides with his plate discipline in 2015. With moderate patience, he could be a force at the plate when he reaches the big leagues.
Williams has solid speed, though he doesn't always get the most out of it on the bases and in the field. He runs and throws well enough to play all three outfield positions but has spent most of his pro career in left field. [MLB.com]
Ranked as the fifth best prospect in Baseball America's midseason top 10 for the Rangers, cathcer Jorge Alfaro has a phenomenal arm and ton of offensive upside, but lacks plate discipline. This season in Double-A, he's hitting .253 with 15 doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI's. He's struck out 61 times and walked just nine times. In 450 games in the minors, he's struck out 492 times and walked 95 times. In four plus minor league seasons, he holds a .261 average. In 2014, between High 'A' and Double-A ball, he hit 17 homers and drove in 87 runs. He's been limited to 49 games this season and is currently on the disabled list following a June surgery on his left ankle. His defense has a little way to go as well, committing 23 passed balls in 90 games last season. Here's the scouting report on Alfaro:
Since signing for a $1.3 million bonus — a record for a Colombian player — in January 2010, Alfaro advanced rapidly to Double-A. He has the best combination of raw power and pure arm strength among Minor League catchers, though he's still polishing those tools and the other aspects of his game. Unfortunately for him, his 2015 season was put on hold when he underwent surgery on his left ankle in June. That didn't keep the Phillies from wanting him, making sure he was included in the package they received in return for Cole Hamels.
Alfaro has the strength and bat speed to drive balls out of any part of any ballpark without selling out for power, yet he's still overly aggressive at the plate. He swings and misses frequently, and he needs to do a better job of taking pitches and recognizing breaking balls. If he figures it out, he could be an average hitter with 20-plus homers per season in the big leagues.
Similarly, he has a cannon arm and good athleticism for a catcher but needs a lot of refinement behind the plate. He threw out just 28 percent of basestealers and committed 23 passed balls in 90 games in 2014. Though he has played first base and tried the outfield in instructional league play, it's too soon to give up on the idea that he can become an All-Star catcher.
The Phillies also received right-handed minor leaguers Jerad Eickoff and Alec Asher. Eickoff came in ranked 17th in the Rangers organization by MLB.com while Asher slotted in at 29th. According to MLB.com's scouting report on Eickoff, he has added velocity and been making steady progress. Last season, he led the Texas League with 144 strikeouts. He projects as an inning-eating third starter. This season he is a combined 10-4 with a 4.11 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A.
Meanwhile, Asher, is 4-10 with a 4.43 ERA this season between Double-A and Triple-A. He was picked by the Giants in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft, but instead went to a pair of junior colleges in Florida. In 2012, the Rangers plucked him in the fourth round, 156th overall. MLB.com projects Asher could end up as an innings-eating mid-rotation starter with his easily deliver that results in strong command and control.
It is yet to be determined where all of these guys end up, but Thompson and Williams are likely to go to Double-A Reading while Eickhoff and Asher could either go to Reading or head to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Cole Hamels era is over, but the Phillies now have a plethora of young pitching talent along with a nice pair of new offensive prospects as well.
