Philadelphia Phillies: Will slugger Dylan Cozens play a factor in 2018?
By Tim Boyle
Will Philadelphia Phillies prospect Dylan Cozens factor into the team’s success in 2018?
Power might be a slight problem for the 2018 Philadelphia Phillies. Rhys Hoskins is the clear favorite to bash 30 home runs and lead the team. Veteran Carlos Santana also looks ready to show off why he’s taking home $20 million a year with more than a bomb per million dollar bill he’ll earn.
If at some point the Phillies are desperate for home runs, all they need to do is dip into the minor leagues and remember the name, Dylan Cozens.
Before Hoskins captured our hearts in 2017, he was bashing baseball alongside Cozens in Reading. The two put on a fantastic show in 2016 at the Double-A level. Cozens ended up leading the way with an astonishing 40 home runs. Unfortunately, Triple-A pitchers didn’t have the same problem facing Cozens. They held him to 27 home runs last season. Worse, Cozens hit just .210 on the year.
A promotion to MLB is far down the line for this left-handed slugging outfielder. Until Cozens can prove he’s more than a one-hit wonder, in Triple-A, he shall stay.
How Dylan Cozens May Help the Phillies
Dylan Cozens will undoubtedly begin the year in Triple-A. However, that’s not his permanent resting place. The fact that he’s a right fielder by trade could help him. Unlike Hoskins who had to re-learn the outfield after focusing on first base, Cozens is more ready to cover the grass beyond the infield dirt. One injury and Cozens is positioned for a promotion.
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How long this lasts is dependent on how Cozens plays. An excellent debut like his buddy Rhys Hoskins had will surely get the Phillies to think about a few things. Namely, releasing Tommy Joseph.
In the long-run, I do not see Cozens playing a pivotal role in Phillies history. A more plausible scenario involves the Phillies moving Cozens to an American League team for pitching. Cozens has future DH tattooed all over him. His powerful stroke and massive frame are perfect for the role. At the moment, though, National League teams should be open to him as well.
Cozens is the kind of player the Phillies may even trade this year before they are ready to make a serious run at a playoff spot. It’s clear there is only room enough in Philadelphia for a certain number of power hitters.
For what’s worth, Cozens is not a lumbering slugger who can’t move. The man has 91 career stolen bases at the minor league level. His most recent notable triumphant came during his monstrous 2016 campaign. When he wasn’t hitting 40 home runs, Cozens stole 21 bases.
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Somewhere, Dylan Cozens will contribute at the MLB level to some degree. In 2018, it doesn’t look like it will be as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. The timing isn’t right, and his stick still needs more work.