With an eye on potential stars, each position except for third base has a candidate with a chance in the next two campaigns to play frequently at the Bank for the Philadelphia Phillies if general manager Matt Klentak green-lights a promotion.
The Fountain of Youth:
When a person is in the early stages of something significant, the degrees of ambition, energy, enthusiasm, effort, dedication and hope are at their highest levels.
As most professionals advance from rookie ball to the high minors, their odds to make the majors in any capacity for an extended time frame increase to 33 1/3 percent for Double-A and 50 percent at Triple-A. For instance, Aaron Altherr will have three consecutive months in the big leagues by late April, which is achieving the minimum for – in his case – a fifty-percenter.
This article covers the youngsters who will be the first to arrive and stick in the majors. And they are in reverse order of potential success. Will they all be more than a September call-up? Yes, then you wake up.
Starting his second summer with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, outfielder Nick Williams finished 2016 from July 30 to season’s end with a .164 average, 46 strikeouts and one walk. And unless he improves his plate discipline, he won’t even get that final month in Philly. Keep in mind, the difference between Double-A and Triple-A is the latter just doesn’t have a steady diet of fastballs: Hurlers trying to return to the Show mix their offerings, and some are finesse pitchers.
Behind Tommy Joseph on the depth chart at first base, Rhys Hoskins will be with Lehigh Valley for the first half, while Joseph will have those months to secure the corner infield job. Hoskins blasted 38 homers and drove in 116 RBI with a .943 OPS for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. That stated, he’ll face the same test Williams did in ’16 with more than just heaters to deal with. Ergo, he must be productive to earn an MLB shot if Joseph struggles.
"FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “I remember I was a scared rookie, hitting .220 after the first three months of my baseball season, and doubting my ability.” – Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski"
Will the Philadelphia Phillies have a difficult decision sending second-sacker Scott Kingery to the minor leagues if he keeps hitting in Clearwater? Not this spring. He must prove he’s still a special player with Reading, but management won’t forget the hard-nosed second baseman they’ve seen so far.