Philadelphia Phillies: Adam Haseley is an X-Factor for 2020

The Philadelphia Phillies are going to be in a battle all season long in the NL East.  CF Adam Haseley could be an X-factor to get the Phillies into the postseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies will enter the 2020 season looking to make it back to the playoffs.  They have made a number of strong signings like Manager Joe Girardi, SS Didi Gregorious, and RHP Zack Wheeler.  While he wasn’t a free agent, OF Adam Haseley could have the same type of impact on the Phillies postseason odds in his first full MLB season.

For those not familiar, Haseley was drafted in the first round by the Phillies out of the University of Virginia in 2017. Haseley sprinted through the minor leagues ascending to the MLB level in just two years by posting an above-average batting line at every level.  Haseley made his big league debut in June after Odubel Herrera was placed on administrative leave for domestic violence and Roman Quinn underwhelmed.

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While Haseley didn’t show a ton with the stick, he did show elite level outfield defense.  Haseley was worth an impeccable +13 DRS playing primarily CF but also playing the corners.  That +13 DRS made Haseley the 12th best outfielder in baseball.  What makes Haseley’s numbers so impressive is the fact that he accumulated all that value in just 541 innings.  Everyone else above Haseley on the list had at least 690 innings.

Philadelphia pitchers have to be thrilled with Haseley patrolling CF instead of Odubel Herrera.  While Herrera brought more offense, he was also a huge negative in CF racking up a combined -14 DRS in 2018 and 2019.  With a full season to patrol the OF, Haseley could end up being one of the best OF defenders in all of baseball.

Offensively, Haseley has some adjustments to make as any young big leaguer does.  He hit an underwhelming .266/.324/.396 for an 88 wRC+ but you can tolerate that with his defense.  Haseley’s splits are notable because he had a 101 wRC+ against righties while he had a putrid 44 against lefties.

One reason for Haseley struggled was his 57% GB rate which combined with an average exit velocity dragged down his xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA.  He might have been pressing or a bit overmatched in his first taste of big-league pitching given that his GB rate was 15 points lower in the minors.

Phillies MiLB star is top third base prospect If Haseley can make adjustments and keep the ball off the ground, he could maintain a wRC+ in the 110-120 range.  Mix that with his elite defense, and Haseley could be a star in the making.  At the minimum, Haseley could be the larger half of an outfield platoon and find himself back in the game once a tough lefty is out of the game.

Even if Adam Haseley doesn’t figure out left-handed pitching, a platoon lefty CF who plays elite defense is a very valuable commodity to a contender like the Philadelphia Phillies. Haseley is only 23 and has less than 300 plate appearances in the Majors and he’s got plenty of experienced players to learn from like Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, Rhys Hoskins, and others.

Haseley alone won’t make or break the Phillies postseason chances, but if his defense stays elite and his bat improves even a little bit, that will be a big step in their return to October.