Catching Up With: Roman Quinn

Phillies prospect Roman Quinn is back to full health and ready to race past the competition.

Quinn suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the offseason in 2013, and consequently missed the first six weeks of the season. He debuted with the Threshers on May 19.

Known for his blazing speed, the 21-year old progressively worked his way back to full strength last summer. His improved comfort was evident in his ever-increasing stolen base totals.

"I'm feeling great right now," Quinn says, "but yeah last year I'd say probably after the All-Star Game was when I really started feeling good, started feeling 100 percent."

Despite the missed time, Quinn finished third in the Florida State League in the steals department. He swiped 32 bases - 24 of which came in the final two months of the season.

Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the Philadelphia farm system, Quinn had the opportunity to represent the Phillies in the prestigious Arizona Fall League this past offseason.

Quinn batted a solid .250 with a pair of homers in 24 games for Scottsdale. He also drew 16 walks and sported a .361 on-base percentage, while swiping 14 bases in 16 attempts on his way to being selected for the annual "Fall-Stars" game, featuring the best-of-the-best from around the league.

"It was great out there, a great experience," Quinn says of his time in Arizona.

"It was great competition, good pitchers, and it gave me a feel for what to look for in Double-A, Triple-A and somewhat in the Majors."

In addition to showcasing some of the top prospects in minor league baseball, this past offseason the AFL also served as a testing ground for the new pace-of-game rules designed to speed up the length of Major League Baseball games.

Those rules included ensuring batters keep one foot in the box during an at-bat, holding pitchers to 20 seconds in between deliveries, and limiting time-outs and inning breaks.

Quinn says that the changes did not effect his on-field routines.

"For me, not at all," he says. "I think it messes more with the pitchers more than anything."

Quinn is currently working in minor league camp at the Carpenter Complex, and is expected to start the year either with Double-A Reading or with the Clearwater Threshers. The young outfielder hopes to become more patient and reliable offensively as he continues to work his way up the Phillies system.

"I just want to improve all the way around. I want to walk more, that's a big thing for me, and be more consistent at the plate too."