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Monday, December 17, 2012

Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies

1. Jesse Biddle, lhp
2. Roman Quinn, ss
3. Tommy Joseph, c
4. Jon Pettibone, rhp
5. Adam Morgan, lhp
6. Ethan Martin, rhp
7. Cody Asche, 3b
8. Maikel Franco, 3b
9. Darin Ruf, 1b/of
10. Carlos Tocci, of

The big league struggles gave Philadelphia a chance to evaluate its system, as eight rookies debuted in the majors, the most since it had 15 in 1996. Along with the unexpected development of a few prospects, that ensured the last two months of the season weren’t completely irrelevant.

Once considered an organization player, first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf blasted 20 homers in Double-A in August to tie Sammy Sosa’s pro record for a single month, then hit three more during a September callup. Tyler Cloyd, a soft-tossing righty who’s short on stuff but strong on pitching sense, made his major league debut in August and won two of his six starts. Longtime minor league veteran Eric Kratz showed some pop, while Phillippe Aumont flashed his plus stuff out of the bullpen. In varying capacities, they all figure to contribute in 2013.

Repoz Posted: December 17, 2012 at 05:40 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: phillies, prospects

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1. Sean Forman Posted: December 17, 2012 at 06:03 PM (#4327170)

The same person cuts my hair and Jesse Biddle's hair.

2. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 17, 2012 at 06:32 PM (#4327193)

I'm a Phillies fan and I've only heard of three of these guys. (Biddle, Asche, Ruf of course)

Let's see ... Roman Quinn was taken in last year's draft and has not played above Williamsport.

Tommy Joseph was acquired in the Pence trade.

Jon Pettibone was voted "best changeup" and "best control" which never turns into a big-league pitcher.

Adam Morgan was taken in last year's draft. Should know who he is. I blame the generic name.

Ethan Martin was acquired in the Victorino trade.

Even the writer of this article doesn't mention who Franco and Tocci are. Upon further inspection Franco was the starting 3B at Lakewood this year and turns 21 next August. Tocci was their big international signing in 2011, super CF prospect out of Venezuela, and turns 18 next August!

3. AndrewJ Posted: December 17, 2012 at 06:47 PM (#4327206)

Biddle's a veddy, veddy old-money Philadelphia surname. Wonder if he'll be worth it on the mound.

4. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 17, 2012 at 06:55 PM (#4327209)

"Biddle grew up in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[2] and he attended the Germantown Friends School, a Quaker School in the neighboring Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia."

Your story checks out.

5. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:04 PM (#4327217)

Isn't Cody Asche supposed to be ready by 2014? Supposedly Michael Young is just keeping the seat warm next year.

6. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:06 PM (#4327219)

That's the idea. Asche coming from Nebraska, the new hotbed of great Phillies players, means he's on the fast track to the majors.

7. Mark Armour Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:09 PM (#4327221)

As the 10th player in the childhood-mind-blowing 10-player trade between the Red Sox and Brewers during (during!) the 1971 World Series, Pat Skrable holds a place in my life equally as powerful as, and analogous to, Jarvis Tatum. And, for that matter, Joe Zanusi.

8. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:14 PM (#4327224)

Thanks Crispix. I'm especially curious about how Darin Ruf will do. He kinda reminds me of a RH Garret Jones. Late-blooming 1B/OF with power. If the gushing by some of our posters holds true, he could be better than that.

9. Blastin Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:39 PM (#4327237)

My sister also went to GFS and graduated with Biddle in 2010. She is currently paid somewhat less. Heh.

10. Davo Mastroianni Posted: December 17, 2012 at 07:49 PM (#4327242)

I don't follow prospects like I used to, but I seem to hear Darin Ruf's name a lot. Is he someone to watch out for?

11. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: December 17, 2012 at 09:21 PM (#4327300)

I don't follow prospects like I used to, but I seem to hear Darin Ruf's name a lot. Is he someone to watch out for?

Until he hit 20 HRs in August at AA last year, just after turning 26, he was a high average, moderate power 1B, i.e., organizational filler.

He hit 3 HRs in 37 PAs for the Phils and another 10 in a partial Venezuela League season this fall. The ball does seem to explode off his bat and he seems to have an idea of what he is doing at the plate. I'm wishcasting a huge season for him. I'm seriously hoping for a reasonable RH half of a platoon. He aspires to be Greg Luzinski in LF.

12. Derb Posted: December 17, 2012 at 09:22 PM (#4327304)

EDIT: I need to read more carefully. Carry on.

13. AndrewJ Posted: December 17, 2012 at 09:37 PM (#4327310)

Asche coming from Nebraska, the new hotbed of great Phillies players

Nothing particularly new about it -- Grover Cleveland Alexander and Richie Ashburn both came from the Cornhusker State.

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies

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