FUTURE PHILLIES STARS
With the current pitching staff and lineup of the Phillies, anything short of a World Series title will be a disappointment. What about six or seven years from now? Who will be the leaders of the club when the likes of Jimmy Rollins and Roy Halladay are likely gone? More importantly for this season, who can step in immediately for Jayson Werth or in case of an injury during the pennant race?
With less than 2 weeks away from when pitchers and catchers can report to Spring Training, lets see
what the depth chart looks like and where these young guys might fit in.
Here the prospects, as ranked by MLB.com:
Dominic Brown, RF is listed as the 2011 #4 prospect.
Brown's minor league numbers, along with his tall, lanky body type have people thinking of a potential Darryl Strawberry.
Factor in Brown's talent with the 22 year old leaving the Dominican during the Winter league gives him all the making of a Strawberry.
Brown will be competing with Ben Francisco and Ross Gload for at bats in right field.
Jonathan Singleton 1B/LF
#30
Since Ryan Howard signed a 5 year contract extension, first base at Citizens Bank Park is not the way Singleton will be making his way to the show. The more likely scenario for the 19 year old to make it to the big league is moving to left field to take over for Ibanez. His minor league stats, though a small sample, show the big lefty has good plate discipline and some pop. Finding a position looks like Singleton's biggest obstacle at this point.
Jarred Cosart, RHP, Phillies
#51 prospect
Similar body type of a Cole Hamels...6'3" 180lbs. Great command...77K's/16BB's..1.93 GO/AO compared to Roy Halladay's career GO/AO ratio of 1.86, Cosart is on the right track of avoiding the gopher ball.
The Lakewood BlueClaws, the Phillies Single A affiliate have won back to back South Atlantic League championships and 3 out of the last 5 so the future is bright for the farm system.
In case you were wondering, Kyle Drabek who was traded in the deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia is ranked as the third best right handed pitching prospect. Still think the deal was worth it though, how about you?
