Archive for Drew Naylor

Prospect ranking season is here. Top 10 lists will be arriving shortly and in preparation for that, we present an intro series looking at some of the players who deserve mentioning but probably will not be appearing on their teams’ Top 10 lists. The series is back for a second year.

The Graduate: J.A. Happ, LHP
Happ did not garner a lot of attention while rising through the minors, but the left-hander had a solid rookie season for the Phillies. He did a nice job of keeping runners off base with just 149 hits allowed and a walk rate of 3.04 BB/9 in 166.0 innings. Happ’s strikeout rate dipped from his minor-league average, but it was still reasonable at 6.45 K/9. If he can utilize his curveball more often, it might help him with his strikeout rate, because it will change the hitters’ eye levels. One of the biggest ugly marks on his stats line is the 38.4% ground-ball rate.

The Riser: Trevor May, RHP
The 20-year-old May made just 15 starts in ’09, but he flashed some intriguing potential. The right-hander posted a strikeout rate of 11.06 K/9 while allowing 58 hits in 77.1 innings at the low-A ball level. May did struggle with his control, posting a walk rate of 5.00 BB/9. He did a nice job of keeping the ball in the park with a HR/9 rate of 0.35. Left-handers hit just .188 against him in ’09. May features an 87-93 mph fastball, curveball and change-up.

The Tumbler: Anthony Hewitt, OF
Hewitt is a classic raw athlete with the potential to absolutely explode if he can embrace the nuances of the sport. It could be a long wait for Phillies fans, though. After struggling during his debut in ’08, the 20-year-old Hewitt scuffled again in ’09 and hit just .223/.255/.395 in 233 at-bats. He posted a low walk rate of 3.7% and his strikeout rate was far too high at 33.0%. In a small sample size of 44 at-bats, his performance against southpaws was brutal: .136/.188/.273. Hewitt did show some power with an ISO of .172. He has some speed on the bases, but his base-stealing skills are raw, and he was successful in just nine of 14 attempts.

The ’10 Sleeper: Yohan Flande, LHP
The 23-year-old Flande had a solid debut in North America in ’08, and he followed that up by making 13 starts in both high-A and double-A in ’09. The left-hander allowed 81 hits in 70.2 innings at the senior level, but he posted a solid FIP of 3.94. Flande posted solid walk rates at both levels and averaged out around 2.65 BB/9. His strikeout rate dropped from 7.35 in high-A to 6.27 K.9 in double-A. Overall, his ground-ball rate was solid at 52.1%. Flande’s repertoire includes an 87-91 mph fastball, a plus change-up and a developing slider.

Bonus: Drew Naylor, RHP
Naylor was highlighted in the ’08 series as the Phillies’ breakout candidate for ’09. Pitching in high-A in ’09, he had an OK year but really did nothing to distinguish himself. Naylor showed good control with a walk rate of 2.11 BB/9, and his strikeout rate was OK at 6.55 K/9. He allowed 162 hits in 158.0 innings of work. Naylor, 23, should move up to double-A in 2010.

Not long after claiming the World Series title, the Philadelphia Phillies organization added a group of prospects to its 40-man roster, including pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Drew Naylor, and Sergio Escalona, as well as catcher Joel Naughton.

Carrasco has been near the top of the Phillies’ prospect list since recovering from a brutal 2005 season. The 21-year-old began the 2008 season in Double-A and held his own by allowing 109 hits in 114.2 innings of work. He posted rates of 3.53 BB/9 and 8.56 K/9, with a FIP of 4.11. Promoted to Triple-A towards the end of the season, Carrasco allowed 37 hits in 36.2 innings and posted rates of 3.19 BB/9 and 11.29 K/9. He did a better job of keeping the ball down and allowed just one home run in Triple-A, after allowing 13 in Double-A. Carrasco’s phone number should be on General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr.’s speed dial in 2009 for when the club tires of Adam Eaton and/or Kyle Kendrick.

Naylor had a breakout 2008 season after spending the previous two seasons in short-season ball. Beginning the year in A-ball, the Australian hurler allowed 69 hits in 87.1 innings of work and posted rates of 2.16 BB/9 and 10.00 K/9. His K/BB ratio was 4.62. Naylor, 22, did not fare as well in High-A ball and allowed 86 hits in 78 innings. The right-hander posted rates of 3.58 BB/9 and 6.81 K/9, with a K/BB ratio of just 1.90. His FIP went from 2.99 to 4.29. He should start 2009 back in High-A ball but could move up quickly if he rights himself. Naylor has an 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and developing change-up.

Escalona, a southpaw, was added to the 40-man roster after a fast-moving season that saw him begin in A-ball and end in Double-A. He recovered nicely from a poor 2007 season, in which he allowed 91 hits in 70.1 innings over three minor league levels as a starter. The 24-year-old reliever started 2008 by allowing 36 hits in 44.2 innings with rates of 3.63 BB/9 and 12.09 K/9. He also allowed just one home run. Promoted to Double-A, Escalona allowed 27 hits in 24.1 innings and posted rates of 5.18 BB/9 and 10.73 K/9. His struggles should not be surprising given the two-level jump. Escalona’s slider makes him a good bet for a future LOOGY role after holding left-handed batters to a .188 average in 2008, compared to right-handers at .281. In his career, right-handed batters have hit .300 against him.

Naughton, like Naylor, is Australian. He was definitely the most surprising addition to the 40-man roster, especially given the presence of top hitting prospect Lou Marson. The club also has three Major League catchers (although they are all more second-string catchers than starters) in Chris Coste, Carlos Ruiz and Ronny Paulino. Naughton, 22, has spent the past two seasons in A-ball. In 2008, he hit .275/.336/.359 with an ISO of .083 in 276 at-bats. He also walked 8.9% of the time and struck out 14.1% of the time. The left-handed hitter has held his own against southpaws in his career (.244 average versus .264 against RHPs) but he has not been allowed to face many: 131 career at-bats versus left-handers, 569 at-bats versus right-handers. Naughton will likely use up all his options before he is ready for the Majors.

Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. was also added to the 40-man roster for the first time after being acquired from Texas for fellow outfield prospect Greg Golson. Both players were also former first round draft picks (Mayberry 19th overall in 2005 out of Stanford University, Golson 21st overall out of a Texas high school). Both outfielders are basically Major-League ready. Golson is more athletic, with tons of raw potential. Mayberry, 25, is less athletic and is close to being a one-dimensional, offensive player with above-average power. In a sense, he’s almost a younger Pat Burrell, whom the Phillies recently lost to free agency. The signing of free agent Raul Ibanez, formerly of Seattle, makes it unlikely that Mayberry will begin 2009 in Philadelphia. It’s unfortunate that his Major League progress will be hindered by the likes of Ibanez, Geoff Jenkins, and Matt Stairs.

The Graduate: J.A. Happ | Born: October 1982 | Left-Handed Pitcher

Oddly enough, the Phillies did not employee any rookie long enough in 2008 to expire his rookie status, but instead of leaving this space blank I thought we could take a quick look at J.A. Happ who could be in line for more playing time in 2009. Happ was valuable in his brief time in Philly because of his versatility, as he made four relief appearances and four starts. His stuff is nothing special (although the fastball is hard to pick up and has good movement) and he allowed a few too many walks (3.98 BB/9), but he limited the hits (7.96 H/9) and struck out his fair share of batters (7.69 K/9)

The Riser: Michael Taylor | Born: December 1985 | Outfielder

You could make the argument for a few names in this spot, which is great news for the organization, but I went with Michael Taylor because he made a bigger jump from where he was in 2007. The hulking outfielder (6-6, 260 pounds) was not even considered to be among the organization’s top prospects entering into 2008, after being drafted out of Stanford in the fifth round of the 2007 amateur draft. He split the season between both A-ball affiliates and hit .361/.441/.554 with a .193 ISO in Lakewood and .329/.380/.560 with a .230 ISO in Clearwater.

The Tumbler: Joe Savery | Born: November 1985 | Left-Handed Pitcher

Joe Savery all but disappeared while pitching in High-A ball in 2008. He was drafted 17th overall out of Rice University in the 2007 draft – and would have been taken higher if not for his history of injuries. Savery’s stuff was not at all like it used to be, especially with his fastball missing oomph. He allowed rates of 10.24 H/9, 3.59 BB/9 and 7.30 K/9. The 2009 season will be huge for Savery, who needs to get back on track to realize his former potential.

The ’08 Draft Pick: Jason Knapp | Born: August 1990 | Right-Handed Pitcher

Jason Knapp was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft out of a New Jersey high school and immediately made himself known in Rookie ball. Knapp posted a 2.61 ERA in seven appearances and allowed just 26 hits in 31 innings. He also posted rates of 3.48 BB/9 and 11.03 K/9.

The ’09 Sleeper: Drew Naylor | Born: May 1986 | Right-Handed Pitcher

Drew Naylor, an Australian, had a nice first full season in professional baseball, after spending the previous two years in short-season ball. He allowed 69 hits as well as rates of 2.16 BB/9 and 10.00 K/9 in 87.1 A-ball innings, before moving up to High-A where he allowed 86 hits and rates of 3.58 BB/9 and 6.81 K/9 in 78 innings. Naylor must continue to improve his secondary pitches – a curveball and change-up – which complement his low-90s fastball.

Up Next: The Seattle Mariners