We continue our weekly check-in on the Phillies’ future down at the farm.
This edition, we lead off with a big debut by the club's 2015 first-round pick.
Cornelius Randolph, OF, Gulf Coast League Phillies
What a start for Randolph. The 10th overall pick of this June’s draft, who Phillies scouting director Johnny Almaraz labeled as the best high school bat in the country, is 4 for 12 with a homer, triple and three RBIs in his first three games with the Gulf Coast League (rookies) Phillies. In his pro debut, the lefty-swinging 18-year-old went 3 for 3 with a triple and a walk. On Saturday, he smacked a two-run home run. "He's got a lot of similarities of a lot of pretty good left-handed hitters. I don't want to mention any names, but guys who were batting champions,” Almaraz said Day 1 of the draft. “This guy has that type of ability." Randolph was a DH in all three games. The Phillies plan on making him a leftfielder.
Aaron Nola, RHP, Triple A Lehigh Valley
All systems go for Nola at Triple A. The Phillies’ top pitching prospect threw 7 2/3 innings of three-run ball in the IronPigs’ 5-4 win over Buffalo on Wednesday. Nola was throwing a shutout into the eighth inning when he ran into trouble. He permitted two runs before exiting with two outs and Hector Neris allowing an inherited runner to score. In his first two starts at Triple A, the 22-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 14 strikeouts and two walks. We may see him in July or August.
J.P. Crawford, SS, Double A Reading
Status quo for Crawford and his development. One of baseball’s top prospects continues to impress with professional at-bats and a knack for getting on base at just 20 years old. Crawford walked eight times last week, collected six hits and scored six runs. He’s reached base safely in 41 straight minor-league games and is hitting .289 with a .400 on-base percentage at Reading.
Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Single A Clearwater
Now, let’s touch on some power across the farm. Hoskins, the Phillies’ 2014 fifth-round pick who was promoted to High A Clearwater after hitting .322 at Low A Lakewood, brought the lumber to the Threshers. The righty-swinging 22-year-old is 5 for 14 (.357) with three home runs, six RBIs and four walks in his first four games at Clearwater.
Brian Pointer, RF, Double A Reading
The 23-year-old put himself in company with Bryce Harper by homering three times in the Fightin Phils’ 8-5 win over Portland on Saturday. It was the first three-homer performance by an Eastern League player since Harper in June 2014, and the first by a Reading player since Jim Deschaine in July 2005. Pointer, the Eastern League Player of the Week, is a 28th-round pick of the Phillies in 2010 and hitting .269 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs at Reading.
MLB
Aaron Altherr, CF, Triple A Lehigh Valley
A red-hot Altherr was promoted from Reading to Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and homered twice on Sunday in the IronPigs’ doubleheader. Altherr, 24, who played two games with the Phillies in 2014, hit .293 at Reading and is 7 for 21 (.333) in his first six games at Lehigh Valley. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder is the Phillies’ 23rd-ranked prospect by MLB.com.
Jesse Biddle, LHP, Double A Reading
Biddle, who has battled command issues all season, had trouble throwing strikes on Saturday. In 101 pitches, the 23-year-old threw 52 strikes and 49 balls over six innings in which he allowed five runs (four earned) of Reading’s 8-5 win over Portland. He’s 7-1 with a 3.81 ERA, but his 33 walks are fourth most in the Eastern League and he owns 1.51 WHIP. However, could a changed approach present a breakthrough?
Tommy Joseph, 1B, Triple A Lehigh Valley
Yes, first baseman and no longer catcher. Joseph, once the Phillies’ top catching prospect when he was acquired in the Hunter Pence trade, is moving to first base after suffering multiple injuries at catcher, including concussions and wrist surgery. For more on the Phillies’ plan for Joseph, click here.
Kelly Dugan, RF, Double A Reading
The Phillies’ 15th-ranked prospect by MLB.com stayed hot last week at Reading, posting three multi-hit games. Dugan has always hit, but he needs to stay healthy. In 12 games at Reading this season, the 24-year-old is batting .362 with a .404 on-base percentage.
Scott Kingery, 2B, Single A Lakewood
Kingery, the Phillies’ 2015 second-round pick, is off to a nice start with the BlueClaws. He’s 6 for 17 (.353) with a double and a triple in his first four games. Almaraz said the 21-year-old out of the University of Arizona is an “advanced” second baseman.