Window of Opportunity to the Phillies

On the way to the majors, detours can occur for a youngster when an organization acquires a veteran to fill a positional hole on the parent club and trades the raw talent they originally signed to a rebuilding franchise like the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the Rotation’s Shadow:

Routes to a destination are never as the crow flies: No straight line exists from point A to an eventual location because variables like the weather can lead to a change of plans.

Emerging from a host of pitchers, starters picked up from other teams are realizing the potential on the Phillies: They could achieve their dream of playing in the major leagues. Previously, they were behind hurlers with a higher ranking on MLB.com’s list of organizational prospects. In other words, they are now in the hunt to make the Phils’ five-man staff if they can impress management.

Of the four slots in the rotation aside from Aaron Nola, two have arrived from the trades of Cole Hamels and Ken Giles. The Hamels’ deal produced an early benefit with Jerad Eickhoff, and the Giles’ swap introduced Vince Velasquez to the faithful. Now, the competition for the other two spots continues in April on the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Wasting no time, Eickhoff had three solid outings with Lehigh Valley before his 2015 call-up, and he’s numerically indicated he’s here to stay. Meanwhile, continuing to make adjustments in the big leagues has earned him the second spot on the starting staff. On the other hand, Velasquez’s heater was originally the key to locking up a rotation job despite the so-called competition with Adam Morgan, who is in the mix for a bullpen seat this season. Presently, Velasquez is transitioning from a thrower to a pitcher, and he and Nola are looking to cement their slots like Eickhoff.

Before the International League could establish a book on Zach Eflin, he joined the red pinstripes after only 11 starts for the IronPigs before making 11 appearances here. In other words, the right-hander will return to Triple-A with confidence, the inside track back to the Show, the advantage of fixed knees and a league facing a new Eflin. Keep in mind, he only reached Advanced Single-A ball, had a lower prospect ranking due to those knees, and was available for Jimmy “J-Roll” Rollins in a three-way trade.