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The winds have changed in the Phillies minor league system. Gone are the days of one or two significant prospects gracing a roster sandwiched by a bunch of fill-in talent.
As the Phillies have rebuilt both its big league club and its minor league system, the influx of talent has trickled down the pipeline, even here to Williamsport. This year will be no different. The initial roster for the Williamsport Crosscutters won’t be available until after the players report to Bowman Field on Tuesday night.
But it’s easy to speculate on the big names which could be in the lineup when the Crosscutters begin their season Friday night at Bowman Field. Beyond whatever the Crosscutters receive from this year’s MLB Draft, which was completed Saturday, there’s potential for this incarnation of the Cutters to be just as talent-laden as last year’s team which won the Pinckney Division title and finished with the best record in the New York-Penn League.
There’s significant potential for seven of the top 50 Phillies prospects, as rated by philliesminorthoughts.com, to be on the Cutters’ roster when the season begins. And that doesn’t include what could be a surprise name like Cornelius Randolph. The 2015 first-round draft pick hasn’t played since April 21 because of an injury. And during his 12-game run in Lakewood, Randolph hit .240 and had an OPS of just .661 as a 19-year old, more than two years younger than the league average.
The Lakewood outfield is crowded with recognizable names like Jose Pujols, Carlos Duran, Jiandido Tromp and Venn Biter. All of whom are enough of prospects that they should be receiving regular playing time, which may push Randolph back to Williamsport when he returns from injury.
Regardless, this is going to be a fun roster to watch. Here’s a look at some of the players who could make the Cutters’ roster:
POSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH
Luis Encarnacion, 1B, 6-2, 185 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 54 games, .271/.313/.370, 4 HR, 36 RBIs, 38 Ks, 12 BB
Notes: Encarnacion was signed for $1 million in 2013 and doesn’t turn 19 until August. Playing essentially the full season at 17-years old last year, he finally started to show flashes of the player he’s capable of being. He’s full of tremendous raw power, which will eventually come as he grows up. His strikeout rate dropped by 7 percent from 2014 to 2015, his isolated power rose by 15 points while his BABIP actually fell. There’s a lot of risk to this prospect, not unlike someone like Jose Pujols. But there’s huge potential upside.
Arquimedes Gamboa, SS, 6-0, 175 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 50 games, .189/.252/.258, 0 HR, 16 RBIs, 50 Ks, 15 BB
Notes: Gamboa was a priority signing for the Phillies in 2014, signing for $900,000 out of Venezuela, but his first season in the system was a disappointment as he OPSed just over .500. His 24% strikeout rate is alarming for a middle infielder who doesn’t profile as having a lot of power potential. Gamboa was touted when he was signed as a player who could potentially be a plus defender and runner with a good feel or contact at the plate.
Juan Luis, OF, 6-4, 175 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): .244/.321/.382, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 14 SB, 26 runs
Notes: The lanky outfield basically came out of nowhere, starting his pro career at 19 years old. He’ll be 20 when his second season in the Phillies’ system begins. People who have seen him play rave of his potential, but right now he’s still a bit of a toolsy project. He’s reportedly an incredible defensive center fielder – think Carlos Duran – but not nearly as polished as an offensive player. One-third of his hits last year went for extra bases, but it mostly appears to be gap power until he adds some size to his lanky frame.
Lucas Williams, 3B, 6-1, 180 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): .288/.400.331, 0 HR, 12 RBIs, 23 Ks, 21 BB, 9 SB
Notes: Taken in the third round of last year’s draft, Philies minor league infield instructor Chris Truby raved about the 19-year old throughout the summer, lauding his athletic ability at the hot corner. Williams is a converted high school shortstop, but it was believed he wouldn’t stick there. He’s an odd prospect at this time because he’s not a prototypical third baseman. He’s got great speed but not a lot of power. There appears to be room for power growth, though.
Greg Pickett, OF, 6-4, 215 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): .179/.289/.286, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 31 Ks, 12 BB
Notes: His debut in pro baseball was uninspiring, but he was touted in the 2015 draft as a player with some of the best raw power among high schoolers. He’s a bat-first player who won’t offer much defensively. Scouts talked about his swing plane offering natural loft to the baseball, but also cautioned that his natural power doesn’t always come out in games. It took a signing bonus of $350,000, more than twice his slot pool, to sign him out of a commitment to Mississippi State, but at 19 years old there’s still room for growth.
PITCHERS TO WATCH
Adonis Medina, RHP, 6-1, 185 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 3-2, 2.98 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 45 1/3 IP, 42 H, 35 Ks, 12 BB
Notes: BaseballHQ.com placed a potential future No. 2 starter label on Medina after he saw a marked improvement in his first year stateside. Saw an uptick in his fastball from 89-90 in 2014 to 91-94 last year. On top of that, has shown a feel for potential average-to-plus secondaries with a curveball and a change-up. Baseball America named him the 10th-best prospect in the Phillies system. Some similarities to Franklyn Kilome in terms of stuff and consistency with his control, but not in terms of frame. Needs to improve command to reach potential.
Ranger Suarez, RHP, 6-1, 180 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 3-0, 0.65 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 15 H, 20 Ks, 4 BB
Notes: Starting his fifth season in the Phillies system, he was limited to just six games in the GCL last year, his first year stateside, because of a left elbow strain. Suarez had made noise over the last four seasons because of his impeccable control which has seen him strike out 115 batters in 130 1/3 innings, walking just eight. In 2014 in the Venezuelan Summer League, he struck out 78 to lead the league and walked just one batter. His stuff has been questioned, but in his fifth season he needs to begin to push himself through with more positive results.
Seranthony Dominguez, RHP, 6-1, 185 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 1-1, 2.35 ERA, 7 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 9 Ks, 7 BB
Notes: He’s Rule 5 eligible following this season, but should be safe being unprotected by the Phillies since this will be his first time pitching outside of Florida. Has had massive problems with his control walking nearly 4 batters per game over his four previous minor league seasons. At times last spring he would sit at 93-96 with his fastball, but faded to 91-94 later in outings. Still a very intriguing arm, especially if the organization decides he may fit best in the bullpen.
Bailey Falter, LHP, 6-4, 175 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 1-2, 3.45 ERA, 28 2/3 IP, 28 hits, 25 Ks, 3 BB
Notes: Had his innings limited after being drafted in the fifth round out of Chino Hills High School in California last year. A curious Day 2 selection by the Phillies if only because his stuff isn’t overwhelming, but his pitchability is through the roof, as evidenced by his 25-3 strikeout to walk ratio. He sat in the high 80s with his fastball while in the GCL last year, but scouts seem to agree there’s room for growth in his frame which could eventually get him to sit in the low 90s.
Nick Fanti, LHP, 6-2, 185 pounds
2015 stats (GCL Phillies): 1-1, 2.55 ERA, 17 2/3 IP, 14 hits, 20 Ks, 6 BB
Notes: Fanti is a projectable southpaw with a ton of room for growth. He was a gamble in the 31st round out of New York, and the Phillies signed him for $100,000. He sat in the mid-80s with his fastball last spring, but was reportedly into the high-80s at one point. He’s got a slender frame with room for added strength. He worked entirely out of the bullpen in the GCL and averaged better than a strikeout per inning. He’s still a bit of an unknown, but playing in a college-level league should give a better idea of his capabilities.
Mitch Rupert covers the Williamsport Crosscutters for the Sun-Gazette. He can be reached at 326-1551, ext. 3129, or by email at mrupert@sungazette.com.