Phillies have optimism for recent first-round picks

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies haven't enjoyed a lot of success winning games in the big leagues or hitting on first-round picks in recent years. They're confident that both of those trends are about to change, however.

Philadelphia hasn't finished above .500 since its streak of five consecutive National League East titles ended in 2011. But the Phillies actually led the division in mid-August last year before a late-season collapse, and should be much stronger in 2019 after adding five former All-Stars this offseason in Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson.

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The Phillies had a nice run of first-round choices from 1999-2002, as Pat Burrell, Brett Myers, Chase Utley, Gavin Floyd and Cole Hamels all went on to long and successful careers. All but Floyd played significant roles in the franchise's second-ever World Series championship in 2008. But since Hamels, they've had 11 first-rounders and six supplemental first-rounders, and Aaron Nola (the seventh overall pick in 2014) is the lone member of that group to distinguish himself.

Philadelphia still has optimism for its four first-rounders since Nola: outfielders Cornelius Randolph (2015, No. 10 overall), Mickey Moniak (2016, No. 1) and Adam Haseley (2017, No. 8), and third baseman Alec Bohm (2018, No. 3). Though none of them has posted outstanding Minor League numbers, new Phillies farm director Josh Bonifay has liked what he has seen this spring in his first extended look at the system.

Haseley is the most advanced of that group and the most likely to be the first to reach Citizens Bank Park. He also has performed better than any of them, batting .305/.361/.433 with 11 homers between Class A Advanced and Double-A during his first full pro season last year.

"Haseley can really swing it," said Bonifay, who was field coordinator for the Astros in 2018. "He hits balls extremely hard and finds the sweet spot very often. He's a very intelligent kid who understands the game."

Philadelphia made Moniak the No. 1 overall choice in large part because of his hitting prowess, though he has batted just .258/.301/.369 in his first three years as a pro. He did hit .297/.347/.470 in the final two months of last season in Class A Advanced as he started to drive the ball more consistently, and he added muscle during the offseason, signs that a breakout could be coming.

"He's playing center field well, he's swinging the bat well and he's running the bases well," Bonifay said. "He's gotten stronger and his plate discipline has improved, his exit velocity has improved, he's controlling the zone and hammering pitches in the zone. It's exciting because you can see the potential in this kid."

Randolph and Bohm also have gotten in better shape as well. Bohm used some of his $5.85 million signing bonus to buy a place near the team's training base in Clearwater and has been working there since January to enhance his agility and improve his chances of sticking at third base. The Phillies are eager to see what he can do when fully healthy after a left knee injury hampered him in his debut.

"He has power and his ability to make contact with the baseball is a special skill," Bonifay said. "He's understanding his body and the way it moves. His body can stay at third base."

Camp standouts

Right-hander Drew Anderson didn't make MLB Pipeline's latest Phillies Top 30 Prospects list, but he did make a strong impression in big league camp. He allowed one run and struck out 12 in 12 2/3 Grapefruit League innings, putting himself in position for an early-season callup if Philadelphia needs mound reinforcements.

A 21st-round pick out of a Nevada high school in 2012, Anderson lost the entire 2015 season to Tommy John surgery but bounced back to appear briefly in the Majors in each of the last two seasons. He works in the low 90s with his fastball and found success this spring after scrapping an ineffective slider and going with a cutter.

"He's had a phenomenal spring," Bonifay said. "He competes and he goes about his business the right way. He mixes his pitches, commands the zone and gets after hitters."

Some scouts believe that shortstop Luis Garcia has the highest ceiling of any prospect in the system. Signed for $2.5 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, he debuted last summer by winning the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League batting title (.369) at age 17. He has continued to shine in Minor League camp this spring.

"He floats in the field and get to balls other guys don’t get to," Bonifay said. "Watching him take ground balls, it's exciting watching the fluidity of the way he moves. His ability to put the bat on the ball is special. He'll add some strength and be the complete package."