Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 3:41 PM | 6 comments |
 

Singleton in left, Savery at first, other minor league notes
options
 

It's never too early to start thinking about the future, so even though the Phillies are very much occupied with their present, let's take a moment to fill you in on some minor matters.

1) The Florida Instructional League recently wrapped up, with the two biggest story lines being Jonathan Singleton's move from first base to left field and Joe Savery's move from pitcher to first base. Singleton is making the transition to outfield partly because he is blocked at first base with Ryan Howard manning that position in the majors for years to come. Singleton, a left-handed bat, exploded onto the radar this season as an 18-year-old at Class A Lakewood, where he hit .290 with an .872 OPS, 14 home runs and 77 RBI in 104 games. The Phillies believe that Singleton can run well enough to make the transition to outfield, although he is still well away from the majors.

Savery, meanwhile, will likely open up next season at first base after failing to establish himself as an impact pitching prospect since the Phillies drafted him in the first round out of Rice in 2007. Savery went 1-12 with a 4.66 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season but spent some time at DH, where he hit .348 with a home run, three doubles and 10 strikeouts in 46 at-bats.
 

2) Rising relief prospect Justin DeFratus will join the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League now that USA Baseball's participation in the Pan-Am Qualifying Tournament is over. DeFratus, who posted a 2.19 ERA and struck out 28 while walking five in 24 innings at Double-A Reading this season (he also posted a 1.79 ERA and 43 strikeouts against 11 walks in 40 innings at Class-A Clearwater), will likely get an invitation to big league spring training for 2011. He appeared in five games for Team USA, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned), while walking none and striking out three in 4 2/3 innings. Team USA was knocked out in the semi-finals by Dominican Republic.

3) The Arizona Fall League is underway. The Phillies' prospects are on the Mesa Solar Sox. Matt Rizzotti entered yesterday 7-for-20 (.350) with no extra base hits, four runs, two RBI, five walks and two strikeouts.

Here are some other numbers:

John Mayberry: 0-for-2
Tim Kennelly: 2-for-4, R, RBIB.J. Rosenberg: 2 G, 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Tyson Brummett: 2 G, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 7 SO
Josh Zeid: 1 G, GS, 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R/Er, 0 BB, 3 SO
Chris Kissock: 1 G, 1 IP, 1 SO
 
Posted by David Murphy @ 3:41 PM  Permalink | 6 comments
6
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:50 PM, 10/19/2010
    No Phils AFLers in today's starting Mesa lineup. Guess they were excused to watch the NLCS game starting about the same time.
    — Dull
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:14 PM, 10/19/2010
    Thanks for the farm update Murph!
    — Timmy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:41 PM, 10/19/2010
    If Singleton was 22 this would make sense, but 18? By the time he's ready, Howard will be in his mid 30's and we'll need a first baseman.
    — PostMoreThan10Comments, GetCensored
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:32 PM, 10/19/2010
    Howard has 6 years left on his deal...you want Singleton to play six more years in the minors and then start playing in the majors at age 24? Why not see if he can play the outfield and replace Ibanez in 2012 when he's 20? They'd have an outfield with two guys under 25. Or get him able to play the outfield along with first base and he becomes a more attractive trade chip to land something else...a young position player who can step in and play somewhere on the infield, an outfielder, etc...a right-handed bat that will be here for years to come.
    — Eilex826
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:33 PM, 10/19/2010
    Whats the deal with Mayberry? He plays the first game then is MIA. Is he injured? I wonder what the plan is for Rizzotti and Savery---both strictly first basemen, lefthanded hitters, and 24/25 years old, with some pop in their bat---possibly trade material?
    — Romus
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:43 AM, 10/20/2010
    What's Singleton's build? Anyone have a scouting report on his speed?

    It's exciting to see a guy who is regularly talked about as a legitimately high ceiling hitting prospect move to a spot that could be open after next year. No way he can be major league ready that quickly though.
    — ecrocks


6 comments
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
XML
 
The Phillies are 5-20 in games in which they allow four or more runs. - 3:29pm
 
@JPCSR30 i agree. i didn't write the headline. the story really isn't about closer being the toughest job in sports - 3:29pm
 
The Phillies have managed just two hits thus far, but those two hits have scored all 4 of their runs. - 2:43pm
 
@jasonlschwartz I think he is actually a caller. Vinny from Queens, you're up next on the FAN - 2:37pm
 
Cole Hamels just allowed a home run to Vinny Rottino, whom the Mets picked up off a Queens Blvd construction site earlier this morning - 2:33pm
Get Your Philadelphia Phillies Gear Here
    Latest Phillies Videos