Phillies Net Group of Pitching Prospects in Trades

The Philadelphia Phillies have been active on the hot stove this offseason as they continue to add young minor-league pitching by trading Reading alums Jimmy Rollins (1999), Marlon Byrd (2001), and Antonio Bastardo (2009-10) as part of their rebuilding efforts. Through the deals, the Phillies netted Zach Eflin and Tom Windle from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Rollins deal, Ben Lively in the Byrd trade to Cincinnati, and Joely Rodriguez from Pittsburgh for Bastardo. 

Analysts from publications like Baseball America, CSN Philly, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Philadelphia Daily News have projected all four pitchers to see time in Baseballtown during the 2015 season along with 2014 Phillies first rounder Aaron Nola making the Fightins projected rotation look formidable with just over 100 days until Opening Night on April 17th. 

Last season, the 20-year old Elfin went 10-7 with a 3.80 ERA in 24 starts for Single-A Lake Elsinore of the San Diego Padres system. The Dodgers dealt the right-handed pitcher after finalizing a deal with the Padres for outfielder Matt Kemp. Eflin was drafted by San Diego with the 33rd overall selection of the 2012 draft. In his first full season of professional baseball, he led the Midwest League with a 2.73 ERA.

Windle, 22, went 12-8 while posting a 4.26 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga of the Dodgers organization in 2014. A second round selection out in 2013 by Los Angeles, the University of Minnesota product is known for his power arm that reaches up to 95 mph.

As the Cincinnati Reds Minor League Player of the Year last season, Lively, 22, went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in 26 combined starts between Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. His standout 2014 campaign was highlighted by a selection to the California League All-Star team. His strikeout total of 171 strikeouts in 151 inning pitched was tied for second-most among all minor league pitchers last season. Prior to 2014, Baseball America had Lively ranked as the no. 9 prospect in the Reds' minor leagues. He was selected by the Reds in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of the University of Central Florida. 

No stranger to the Eastern League, Rodriguez spent all of 2014 with the Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pirates where he went 6-11 with a 4.84 ERA in 30 games (21 starts). The southpaw was named to the 2014 Arizona Fall League Top Prospects Team after going 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA in seven starts for Scottsdale. The 23-year old Rodriguez was originally signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent in 2009. 

Season tickets, mini-plan packages, and group tickets are your best way to guarantee you see these prospects and many more during the 2015 season. Tickets are available by calling 610-370-BALL, stopping by the Fightins Ticket Office at FirstEnergy Stadium, or by visiting Fightins.com.