Yoel Mecias, Image- Tug Haines for PhoulBallz.com

Despite having his 2013 campaign shortened due to a severe elbow injury, Venezuelan born hurler Yoel Mecias made a name for himself as a notable prospect in the Phillies system last year. The lefty, who turned 20 years old this off-season, underwent Tommy John surgery in June after an impressive stint with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.

Signed as an amateur free agent in December 2010, Mecias made his pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2012, tallying a 0-2 record with two saves and a 2.16 ERA in 14 games (four starts). In his 10 relief outings, Mecias sported a 1.90 ERA. Overall, he struck out 34 batters and walked 11 in 41 2/3 innings that year after some time in extended spring training.

Mecias also made an appearance for Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League in 2012 as well.

In 13 games (11 starts) with Lakewood last season, Mecias posted a 4-3 record and a 3.79 ERA along with an 11.05 K/9 mark. His efforts were enough to gain him recognition as a South Atlantic League All-Star. He was also honored as the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the month in May when he posted a 3-1 record and a 1.50 ERA over six starts. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #15 LHP Yoel Mecias

Cameron Rupp, Image- Jay Floyd

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 draft, catcher Cameron Rupp has steadily been an improving prospect for the Phillies. After debuting in the big leagues last year, the 25-year-old has certainly proven himself as a talented backstop that could have quite a career ahead.

Rupp, a University of Texas product, made his professional debut with the short-season A level Williamsport Crosscutters in 2010. In 55 games that year, Rupp posted a .218 batting average with five home runs and 28 RBI against NY-Penn League competition.

The following season, as a member of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Rupp proved himself to be capable of serious adjustments, as the 6-foot-2-inch 230-pounder had a tough time through the first half of the South Atlantic League season, posting a .219 batting average with two home runs and 13 RBI in 48 games. Working hard behind the scenes with the BlueClaws’ coaching staff, Rupp altered his approach at the plate and showed considerable improvements after the All-Star break, batting .318 with two home runs and 31 RBI in 51 games.

Rupp was honored as a Florida State League All-Star in 2012, posting a .267 average with 10 homers and 49 RBI in 104 games for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers.

The 2013 season saw Rupp open the regular season with Double-A Reading, where he split time behind the plate with Sebastian Valle . In 41 games there, Rupp sported a .245 batting average with six doubles, eight homers and 21 RBI. By early June, the youngster earned a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he tallied a .269 average with 10 doubles, six homers and 24 RBI in 53 games. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #16 Catcher Cameron Rupp

Tommy Joseph, Image- Jay Floyd

Acquired from San Francisco in a swap for Hunter Pence in July 2012, catcher Tommy Joseph quickly became one of the Phillies’ top positional prospects.? In the time since that trade, however, Joseph has struggled to produce as he has dealt with injury concerns that have prevented him from getting and staying hot.

Possessing a high ceiling bat and strong backstop skills, Joseph is still a prospect that could make a big splash in the Phils system if his health allows him to stay on the field.

In 2009 Joseph was was drafted in the second round out of Horizon High School in Arizona.? That season, he was recognized as an All-State player as he dominated opposing pitchers with his .494 average, 15 home runs and 36 RBI in 37 games played.

Upon making his professional debut the following year, the six-foot-one 215-pounder played with Class A Augusta of the South Atlantic League.? In 2010, with the GreenJackets, Joseph posted a .236 average with 16 homers and 68 RBI in 117 games.

In 2011, Joseph batted .270, while slamming 22 home runs and driving in 95 runs in 127 games for Class A Advanced San Jose. Over the off-season that followed, he was ranked as San Francisco’s 5th best prospect by MLB.com.

An All-Star in the Double-A Eastern League in 2012, the righty hitting Joseph tallied a .257 average with 11 home runs and 48 RBI in 108 games between Richmond and Reading.? Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014 #17: Catcher Tommy Joseph

Roman Quinn , Image- Jay Floyd

This week, PhilliesNation’s own minor league expert Jay Floyd chatted with highly regarded shortstop prospect Roman Quinn about his recovery from off-season surgery, exclusively for ShoreSportsNetwork.com .

In the feature, the 20-year-old indicated that he’s well ahead of schedule as he recovers from the procedure to remedy his ruptured right Achilles tendon.? Quinn was doing routine sprints in October near his home in Florida, when he felt a pop in the back of his ankle.? Surgery came soon after for the Phils’ 2nd round draft choice from 2011.

Quinn, who posted a .238 average with five home runs, 21 RBI and 32 steals in 67 games for Class A Lakewood last year, is targeting a late-June or early-July return.

The youngster was still recovering from a broken left wrist that he suffered after being hit by a pitch in a game in June, at the time of the Achillies injury, but that first ailment is now 100%.

In the Floyd piece, Quinn details that he was very disappointed when he learned the diagnosis of his Achilles issue, but that a discussion with a friend in the Phils’ system provided him the boost that he needed to turn his outlook around.

“It brought me down real low, man,” Quinn explained. “It was just very discouraging until I talked with Albert Cartwright , actually. He had the same injury. I talked to him about his injury and everything and he was just telling me, ‘Stay with it and just go hard in your rehab, man, and you can come back even faster, even stronger.’ ‘Cause that’s exactly what he did and as soon as I heard that, it gave me all my confidence back.”

Continue reading Quinn progressing well from Achilles surgery

This has nothing to do with the Philadelphia Phillies, but I don’t care. Once in a while, it’s good to shine a light on the positive instead of the negative, which has happened far too often this offseason due to the Phillies moves – or lackthereof.

Out in San Francisco, Giants coach Tim Flannery is helping out Bryan Stow , a man who was beaten to within an inch of his life outside of Dodger Stadium on opening day 2011. As Stow’s medical bills have piled up, Flannery decided to get his band involved – he’s an accomplished musician – to raise money for the Stow family. After a series of shows in California, Flannery’s band sent $96,000 to the Stow’s.

“That was, for me, kind of a gamble,” Flannery said by phone Monday. “People always say, ‘Well, why don’t you just write a check?’ I always say, ‘Well, I only hit nine home runs in my 10-year career, I can’t just write a big check.’

“I did write a check. I wrote a check that produced a new record. … I’m just playing the music. I’m doing the same thing I always do. For people to come and just continue the love, it’s a great, great honor.”

Give it up for Flannery and his mates.

How’s this for a bit of a turnaround. After several years of below average grades, Keith Law has the Phillies farm system ranked 14th in the majors.

Here’s what Law said :

Similar to Texas but with fewer prospects who are potential grade 65 or better players in the majors. I thought the Phillies had one of the best drafts, perhaps the best of anyone, in 2013, landing a few high-ceiling high school kids — such as shortstop J.P. Crawford — while mixing in some solid college bats like catcher Andrew Knapp.

You know the names well: Franco, Biddle, Quinn, Tocci, etc. Finally, one of the foremost experts on the minor leagues has given some praise to a system that hasn’t had much going right for it lately. After unloading many of their best names in the Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence, and Roy Oswalt deals, among others, the depleted farm could finally be on it’s way back to prominence.

On Wednesday, Law will release his Top 100 prospects list throughout baseball.

Currently, our own Jay Floyd is bringing the heat as he unveils the Phillies organizational rankings . You should be checking that out!

Phillies tickets

Natural power is what made outfielder Dylan Cozens the Phillies 2nd round draft choice (77th overall) in 2012.? The six-foot-six 235-pounder has since shown a lot of progress in his short time in the minor leagues and is one the organization’s most promising offensive players.

After signing with the Phillies, Cozens debuted with the rookie level Gulf Coast Phillies.? In 50 games there, the lefty hitting Arizona native collected 15 doubles, two triples, five homers and 24 RBI. Cozens also participated in the Florida Instructional League in 2012, where he impressed Phillies coaches and staff with his ability to drive the ball to the farthest reaches of the Carpenter Complex and neighboring teams’ facilities.

After a productive spring in 2013, Cozens was retained in extended spring training and made his official season debut with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League.? Cozens was among the league leaders in many categories last year, placing second in the league in doubles (19), extra base hits (30), and runs (50) while ranking third in slugging percentage (.469).? Additionally, he batted .265 with two triples, nine home runs and 35 RBI in 68 games for the Cutters. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #18 Outfielder Dylan Cozens

Cameron Perkins, Image- @BaseballBetsy

Outfielder Cameron Perkins has been one of the Phillies’ most promising prospects since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft. The righty batting outfielder has been a solid performer in many aspects of the game and is closest to the big leagues of any player from that year’s Phils draft class.

Perkins signed quickly and upon his pro debut he batted .158 with three RBI in five games for the Gulf Coast League (rookie level) Phillies. Following a promotion to the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, Perkins shined. In 67 games, he posted a .304 average with 23 doubles, one triple, one home run and 38 RBI.

An aggressive swinger, Perkins was a top performer in the Class A Advanced Florida State League when he was sidelined with a fractured wrist after being hit by a pitch on May 31st. At the time of his injury, Perkins was among the league leaders in several offensive categories.

Five weeks later, Perkins was back in action and completed a solid season with Clearwater following two rehab outings with the Gulf Coast League Phillies.? Overall last year, he batted .299 while notching 30 doubles, five triples, six homers and 53 RBI. Continue reading Prospect Nation #19: Outfielder Cameron Perkins

Kevin Munson, Image- @Phillies

Selected by the Phillies in this off-season’s Rule 5 draft, right-handed pitcher Kevin Munson is probably the most likely prospect on this countdown to make the team’s opening day roster.

Munson, a fourth round draft selection in 2010 by Arizona, tallied a 1.59 ERA in five outings in the Mexican Winter League prior to joining the Phillies’ organization this off-season.? The hard-throwing hurler has been an under-performer in recent years and looks to shine with a change of scenery this year.

In four pro seasons, the six-foot-one 215-pounder has posted an 11.39 K/9 mark, which clearly shows his ability to overpower the opposition at the plate.? His 4.98 BB/9 mark certainly indicates there’s plenty of room for improvement when addressing his control.? Also, his 40.2% career ground ball ratio is fair, but not great.

Pitching as high as Triple-A last year, Munson sported a 0-2 record with one save and a 5.09 ERA in 24 appearances for Reno in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League.

In parts of three seasons at Double-A Mobile, Munson has a 5-7 record along with a 5.03 ERA in 75 games.

Based on the guidelines of the Rule 5 draft, Munson, a reliever, would have to stay on the Phils’ 25-man roster, barring any disabled list time, or be offered back to Arizona. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #20 RHP Kevin Munson

Mike Nesseth, Image- Jay Floyd

During the 2013 season, righty reliever Mike Nesseth proved himself to be a mover within the Phillies’ developmental ranks.? After a rough start to his season with Class A Advanced Clearwater, Nesseth was promoted to Double-A Reading where he was dominant and earned himself another promotion before season’s end.? With the progress he’s shown,
the Minnesota native is a prospect to know in the Phils system as the new season approaches.

Nesseth was the Phillies’ 17th round selection in 2010 while already recovering from Tommy John surgery. Undergoing the procedure approximately six weeks before the amateur draft, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate’s spot fell quite a bit from where he would have been taken if he was healthy.

It was late June 2011 before Nesseth made his official pro debut.? As a member of the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, the youngster sported a 3-6 record with a 3.21 ERA in 14 starts.? He also held righty batters to a .191 batting average.

The following year, after a difficult stretch to open the season, Nesseth was moved to the bullpen, where he has stayed and feels most comfortable. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #21 RHP Mike Nesseth