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03/12/2008 10:00 AM ET
Phillies flashing signs of a bright future
Carrasco, Carpenter lead next generation of talented hurlers
By Lisa Winston / MLB.com
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 Carlos Carrasco pitched a six-inning no-hitter for Double-A Reading last season. (Will Bentzel/MLB.com)
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The future success of every Major League team lies in its Minor League system. With that in mind, each preseason, MLB.com takes a top-to-bottom look at all 30 organizations, from top prospects to recent draft picks.
Phillies fans had a lot to cheer about in 2007, thanks to their team's phantastic phinish (sorry, couldn't resist).
And although the most recent fruits of the system may not be apparent on the big club, which isn't expected to carry any impact rookies to start '08, there are several pitching prospects to look forward to if and when the club comes calling.
Meanwhile, local fans can do a little road-tripping to see both upper levels play, something they couldn't do last year when the Triple-A squad was in Ottawa. This year, the organization is understandably excited about unveiling the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who move into new digs at Coca-Cola Park, less than an hour from Philly.
The new park also sets up a natural local rivalry with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, who play in one of the Phils' previous Triple-A parks.
10 Spot
Ten prospects to watch out for in 2008:
Quintin Berry, OF
A 2006 fifth-round pick out of San Diego State, Berry did his old coach, Tony Gwynn, proud in 2007 when he led the organization with a .312 average at Class A Lakewood. He also led the Phillies with 55 steals and was the club's Minor League Player of the Year. A true center fielder, Berry stays within his game of speed and contact hitting, and the Phillies look for him to continue that success this year at Class A Advanced Clearwater.
Audio: Berry sets the table
Audio: Berry delivers an RBI double
Dominic Brown, OF
The 6-foot-5 20-year-old could be a very interesting player to watch. A 20th-round pick in 2006 out of high school in Georgia, he dropped in the Draft partly because of a commitment to play football for Miami. This will be his first full season after hitting .295 with three homers, 32 RBIs and 14 steals at Williamsport last summer.
A converted pitcher with plus power, he is a good defensive outfielder who could open some eyes at Lakewood.
"He has all the tools to be something special and he's been pretty impressive early in camp," said farm director Steve Noworyta. "He's gotten bigger and stronger, if you can imagine that."
Audio: 'Cutters score on Brown's chopper
ON THE VERGE
Here's a player on the brink of breaking into the Major Leagues:
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• Jason Jaramillo, C -- If everyone is healthy, Jaramillo should start the year back at Triple-A, but he could very well see some time in the bigs before long. The 2004 second-round pick out of Oklahoma State is a solid defensive catcher and switch-hitter who gained valuable experience with Team USA last year.
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Andrew Carpenter, RHP
Carpenter wowed the crowd in his first full season, tying for the Minor League lead with 17 wins and posting a 3.20 ERA at Clearwater before adding two victories in the playoffs. A 2006 second-round pick, he has command of a fastball around 90, a plus slider, curve, changeup and a great splitter.
"You don't win 19 games with smoke and mirrors," Noworyta said. "He'll be an interesting guy to watch and could be our Pitcher of the Year this year."
Audio: Carpenter crafts his eighth K
Carlos Carrasco, RHP
The 21-year-old from Venezuela is viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in the Minors, with a lively fastball in the low- to mid-90s and a plus changeup.
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• Monday, Feb. 25: Chicago Cubs
• Tuesday, Feb. 26: Milwaukee Brewers
• Wednesday, Feb. 27: Cincinnati Reds
• Thursday, Feb. 28: Astros and Pirates
• Friday, Feb. 29: St. Louis Cardinals
• Saturday, March 1: Baltimore Orioles
• Sunday, March 2: Tampa Bay Rays
• Monday, March 3: Boston Red Sox
• Tuesday, March 4: Toronto Blue Jays
• Wednesday, March 5: New York Yankees
• Thursday, March 6: Los Angeles Angels
• Friday, March 7: Seattle Mariners
• Saturday, March 8: Oakland Athletics
• Sunday, March 9: Texas Rangers
• Monday, March 10: New York Mets
• Tuesday, March 11: Atlanta Braves
• Wednesday, March 12: Philadelphia Phillies
• Thursday, March 13: Nationals and Marlins
• Friday, March 14: Cleveland Indians
• Saturday, March 15: Kansas City Royals
• Sunday, March 16: Minnesota Twins
• Monday, March 17: Detroit Tigers
• Tuesday, March 18: Chicago White Sox
• Wednesday, March 19: Colorado Rockies
• Thursday, March 20: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Friday, March 21: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Saturday, March 22: San Francisco Giants
• Sunday, March 23: San Diego Padres
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After struggling at Lakewood in 2005 at the age of 18, he returned there in '06 and was one of the top pitchers in the league. He moved up to Clearwater to open '07 and went 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 starts before heading to Double-A Reading, where his ERA rose to 4.86 in 14 starts.
The Phillies do not want to rush their gem, who is still young and likely will start the year back at Reading. So rather than setting a timetable for him to get to the big leagues, they just want to see consistency in '08.
"He's special," Noworyta said. "The maturity factor is the biggest thing."
Audio: Carrasco's six-inning no-no
Adrian Cardenas, 2B
A supplemental first-round pick in 2006 out of high school in Miami, Cardenas shifted from shortstop to second base as a pro and hit .295 with nine homers, 79 RBIs and 20 steals in his first full season at Lakewood.
The club also loves the 20-year-old's makeup and work ethic and were happy to see him come to camp in great shape.
"I know he's worked hard this offseason with his own personal trainer because he's that kind of player," Noworyta said. "We gave him things to work on, like his footwork, and knowing how hard he works, I'm excited to see him this spring."
Audio: Cardenas collects four hits
Video: Cardenas on the Futures Game
Kyle Drabek, RHP
The son of former Major Leaguer Doug Drabek has great stuff, but he won't get a chance to show it until the end of this season -- at the earliest -- after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He still makes our 10 Spot for his upside, thanks to a mid-90s fastball and outstanding curveball.
Though the 2006 first-rounder's makeup had been questioned in the past, the Phillies think his bout with adversity may have been a wakeup call and they've been very pleased with his rehab so far.
"I've been impressed with his work ethic," Noworyta said of Drabek, who had a 4.33 ERA in 11 games at Lakewood before being shut down last summer. "I think when he comes back he'll come back with a vengeance and make up for lost time."
Audio: Drabek completes seven scoreless
Greg Golson, OF
The Phillies' top offensive prospect was drafted out of high school in Texas in the first round in 2004. His tools have always been highly regarded and he really started to put them together last summer between Clearwater and Reading, combining for 15 homers, 32 doubles, 68 RBIs and 20 steals.
Golson combines speed and a strong arm with great overall athleticism.
"He's already having a nice camp," Noworyta said of Golson, who's gotten to see some big-league action. "He has the tools defensively right now for the big leagues and offensively, we just want to see more consistency."
Audio: Golson clubs a late solo homer
Lou Marson, C
A steady defensive catcher who makes solid contact to all fields, Marson was the club's fourth-round pick in 2004 out of high school in Arizona. Last summer, he hit .288 with seven homers, 63 RBIs and 24 doubles at Clearwater and posted personal bests in average, homers and doubles. He's made steady progress each season and should be the starting catcher at Reading this summer.
"Another year older and another year more mature, he's gotten stronger and, it seems, a little bit bigger," Noworyta said. "He's really looking like a man behind the plate."
Audio: Marson cracks a three-run homer
Audio: Marson delivers a go-ahead blast
Josh Outman, LHP
No longer being confused with fellow hurler Will Inman, Outman made a name for himself in '07 as he used the best slider in the system to post a 2.45 ERA in 20 games at Clearwater. He struck out 117 in as many innings before moving up to Reading, where he had a 4.50 ERA in seven starts.
A 2005 10th-rounder out of Central Missouri State, he led the organization with 151 strikeouts last season as he mixed a low-90s fastball, plus slider and changeup. He followed that up by starring for Team USA in World Cup action.
"He had a great year," Noworyta said. "It continued in Double-A, the Fall League and Team USA. Everywhere he went, he got very good reviews."
Audio: Outman records a bases-loaded K
Joe Savery, LHP
The Phillies' top pick in 2007 out of Rice came to Williamsport to start his pro career and posted a 2.73 ERA in seven games before heading to the Arizona Fall League and putting up an ERA below 1.00. He has great makeup and poise and throws a low-90s fastball, changeup and slurve.
Audio: Savery rings up another batter
Under the Radar
Jason Donald, SS
The 2005 third-rounder hit .310 at Lakewood and .300 at Clearwater in his split season, combining for 12 homers and 71 RBIs. He has gap power and is a solid defensive player with a good work ethic.
Audio: Donald's ninth-inning slam
Freddy Galvis, SS
Galvis could emerge as the top infield prospect in the organization by the end of the year. An outstanding defensive shortstop and switch-hitter, he played for short-season Williamsport in '07 at the age of 17 before undergoing offseason surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
"He's an ESPN highlight film," Noworyta said. "He makes plays that are just tremendous and he is special. He's the best I've seen around in our system in a while. His range is unbelievable. All he needs is strength and time."
Audio: Galvis laces a leadoff double
J.A. Happ, LHP
A 2004 third-round pick out of Northwestern, Happ got into one big-league game in 2007 and wants to go back. His 5.02 ERA at Ottawa is not indicative of what he can do, nagged as he was by elbow trouble. His 2006 numbers were impressive (2.81 ERA at Clearwater and 2.65 ERA at Reading) and with a fastball in the low 90s, the left-hander should be back soon.
"I think he will be on that radar screen because he has good secondary stuff and knows how to pitch," Noworyta said.
Audio: Happ holds 'em hitless through six
2007 Draft Recap
C Travis D'Arnaud, a supplemental first-round pick, hit .241 with four homers and 29 RBIs in the Gulf Coast League. ... OF Matt Spencer (third round) batted .263 with nine homers and 26 RBIs at Williamsport. ... RHP Chance Chapman (eighth round) posted a 2.09 ERA in 14 starts at Williamsport. ... RHP Julian Sampson (12th round) throws a fastball in the low- to mid-90s, a slider, changeup and curve. ... 1B Karl Bolt, a 15th-rounder from the Air Force Academy, hit .256 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in the GCL.
Audio: Spencer goes deep for Williamsport
Audio: Chapman notches his fourth K
Predictions
Organizational Player of the Year -- Dominic Brown
His combination of athleticism, tools and plate savvy should be worth watching as he moves up to his first full season at Lakewood.
Organizational Pitcher of the Year -- Andrew Carpenter
There was nothing he couldn't do at Clearwater, where he won 19 games (playoffs included). We look for him to have similar success at Reading in '08.
Comeback Player of the Year -- J.A. Happ
Without anymore nagging elbow issues and now able to pitch home games at brand new Coca-Cola Park in Allentown instead of empty Ottawa, Happ should be, well, happy. And his fans will be, too.
Top Candidate for NL Rookie of the Year -- Jason Jaramillo
This is a tough one because for Jaramillo to earn this honor, it would require an injury or trade within the organization. But the Phillies really don't have anyone else who could see substantial time.
Quotable
"He continues, like fine wine, to get better as he ages." -- Noworyta on Marson Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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