Our roster breakdown hits the sweet spot with the teens 11-20. Here we see a lot of prospects breaking out, solid performing starters and a couple surprises.
Again, my ranking is based equal parts on the season performance and the player's expected fit on future Phillies' squads.
Enjoy.
20. Luis Garcia, RP -- Underrated member of the Phils' bullpen. Garcia has pitched to a 3.53 FIP since the start of 2015 (203 games). The traditional 3.83 ERA looks kinda blah this year, but Luis lowered his always troublesome walk rate for the fourth straight year (from a wild 8.4 to a decent 2.7). His K rate (9.7) set a career high by quite a bit.
A good fastball/slider reliever under control for two more years.
19. Carlos Santana, 1B -- Carlos has become a polarizing player. So this is probably a good place to reiterate my criteria. Contracts have nothing to do with my ranking. Specific to Carlos, his batting average has nothing to do with his ranking. I don't even look at it.
I do look at OPS, and a lengthy midsummer swoon has Santana looking increasingly disappointing. His .759 is nearly 50 points below his career average, and below average for first base. The Phils rank 19th in first-base WAR.
Santana is 32 and is here two more years. They may be years of continued decline. Seems Carlos has trouble turning on and driving good fastballs now.
Love the walks and the OBP; Need to see more power. Big-time extra credit for the leadership he is showing this young team.
18. Justin Bour, 1B -- Very fitting to have Bour ranked near Santana since they are so similar. Bour: 20 homers, 71 walks, .228 batting average, .759 OPS; Santana: 20, 92, .222 and .759.
A late bloomer, Bour is two years younger and under arbitration control for two more seasons. He could take playing time away from Carlos next season. Something to watch.
17. Edubray Ramos, RP -- Ramos appeared in 101 games the past two seasons, and pitched to a strong 3.10 FIP with a 10.7 K rate. The reliever who offers consistency is a rare thing and Ramos brings a high-level consistency.
He has a live fastball, a swing-inducing slider and is under team control for four more seasons. A valuable piece.
16. Jorge Alfaro, C -- I've been watching baseball and the Phillies since the 70s. I can't recall ever seeing a player with greater tools and potential, yet be so very, very far away from putting them to full use than Alfaro.
Jorge leads NL catchers in range factor and caught stealing, and is second in assists. This despite playing a bit less than full-time. He is also tops in passed balls and SBs allowed.
At the plate, he's posted a strong (for a catcher) .744 OPS in roughly the equivalent of a full season over 2017-18. He's also walked just 19 times against 159 Ks. Atrocious.
This could be a very long road. During his third season of a Hall of Fame career, Yadier Molina posted a .595 OPS. It wasn't until his eighth season in the league, after Molina was an established defensive stud, that the bat blossomed.
The good news is Jorge seems attentive, hard working and with a passion for the game. Stud starter Aaron Nola loves throwing to him, so that says something.
15. Enyel De Los Santos, SP -- Just 22, De Los Santos is one of the biggest surprises of the season. His 10-5, 2.63 season in Triple A vaulted him to near the top of prospect lists. Word has it the Phils would not include him in trade talks for Machado. On the come.
14. Scott Kingery, IF -- I remain a huge believer in Scott Kingery. Yes, the stats will show a very poor season, but that is hardly unusual for rookies. On defense, the Phils believe in his ability to play SS. It is a tremendous accomplishment to become proficient while converting to such a crucial position at the ML level.
On offense, Scottie is hitting .307 ahead in the count, with an .930 OPS. However, while his teammates are roughly equal parts hitting ahead and behind in the count, Kingery's at-bats are ending with the pitcher ahead three times as often.
That will change, or it should change, as Scott learns the pitchers and gets more experience. He has a great, team-friendly contract and an impressive power-speed combo that is going to play well for many years to come.
It would be a bold move, but I wonder if the Phils consider including 2B Cesar Hernandez in trade and turning the position over the Kingery.
13. Victor Arano, RP -- Maybe this is too generous for a non-closer, (mostly) non-setup relief pitcher. But it's in recognition of just how well Arano has pitched and how many times he has saved Kap's ass this year.
Pitching (at times) in a different role every outing can test even the most icy relievers. But Arano has performed with aplomb, appearing 59 times over the past year, with a 2.49 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, 10 Ks per nine and 2.6 walks. Just great stuff.
Under team control for five years. Future closer? Viva la Mexico!
12. Wilson Ramos, C -- His 2018 performance is undeniably great: 15 homers, 62 RBIs, .867 OPS and an AL All-Star berth with the Rays. Post-trade, Ramos won a game for the Phillies with a triple and two doubles in an important 7-4 win over the Red Sox.
I have him here because I think Ramos resigns with the Phillies and plays a big role the next few seasons.
11. Nick Williams, OF -- Nick is one of those easily overlooked players who play an important role on winning teams. He draws little attention, hits few highs or lows, and won't bat in the top of the lineup.
But you plug him in the six hole and at the end of the year Williams will finish with 20-25 homers, 80+ RBIs and flirt with an .800 OPS. Williams is a picture of consistency, much valued in baseball. He is hitting .259 with 9 homers at home and .263 with 8 homers on the road.
After a slow start while platooning with Aaron Altherr, Nick is hitting .274 with 16 homers and an .815 OPS since May 1.
An athletic young man who turns 25 next week, Williams is not a free agent until 2024. A nice asset.
Next Up: The best we got.
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