Aaron Phillips, RHP. DOB: 10/11/1996. 6'5", 215 lbs. Drafted 2017 Round 9.
2017 Short Season: 3-0, 4.45, 28.1 IP, 11.44 K/9, 4.13 BB/9, 3.68 FIP, 3.73 xFIP, 1.07 FB/FB.
2018 Low A: 6-7, 3.72, 101.2 IP, 10.62 K/9, 1.42 BB/9, 3.54 FIP, 2.82 xFIP, 1.28 GB/FB.
Aaron Phillips had himself quite a season pitching exclusively for Augusta last season. Despite being a college draftee from 2017, he played the whole season at age 21 which is a year younger than most college draftees first full season which makes his level more appropriate. Per Fangraphs, he fits the profile of a late bloomer in that he has height, a frame that can carry more weight and attended a smaller college in the Northeast(St Bonaventure). Also per Fangraphs he throws a low 90's FB that he is not afraid to use up in the zone, a diving curveball. He also gets "way down the mound, which helps his fastball play a bit better than its otherwise fringey velocity would suggest."
Speaking of projectability, per video from Augusta, he already weighs a lot more than 215 lbs. He should move up to San Jose in 2019 where he'll still be age appropriate. I'll try to get out to see him when the SJ Giants come to SoCal.
*********************************************************************************
I generally don't mess with the list after I put it out, but I had Brandon Van Horn in this slot and after I researched him, I realized he did not belong in the top 50. I dropped him into HM, moved #41-50 up one slot and added LHP Conner Menez in at #50.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
St. Bonaventure (Northwest NY) was the Alma mater of another Giant, John McGraw, but not much else in baseball and is known a lot better for a different B-B sport.
ReplyDeleteNice that Phillips doesn't have a wild hair to tame -- he'll be one to watch in a hitters' environment to see if his control of a low 90's fastball is fine enough.
He's one of several interesting Green Jackets you'll get to see next year.
The school also produced Hall of Fame player and manager, Hugh Jennings.
Delete