Scouting reports for 11 prospects added to Phillies' roster

The Phillies added 11 prospects to their 40-man roster on Friday. Here are scouting reports on all 11 players:

DREW ANDERSON, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 23
How Acquired: 21st-round pick, 2012 draft

He's a Tommy John survivor who gained steam in the second half of last season. Anderson underwent the surgery in April 2015, and he returned with a fastball that one scout saw this summer top at 97 mph. He has thrown just 70 innings since the surgery, but those innings were so good that other organizations noticed.

Anderson posted a 2.70 ERA in those 70 innings (15 starts) with 10.0 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine. He split his time between single-A Lakewood and Clearwater, so he could begin 2017 at Reading or repeat Clearwater in April.

"He's a kid who, if you'll talk to five scouts who have seen our system, two may tell you he's the best we have," Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan said. "That's exciting."

MARK APPEL, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 25
How Acquired: Trade with Houston, Dec. 12, 2015

The former No. 1-overall pick should be ready for spring training after surgery in late June to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. It was a lost season for Appel, who struck out 38 and walked 20 with a 4.46 ERA in 38 1/3 innings with triple-A Lehigh Valley. There were thoughts from people within other organizations that the Phillies could keep Appel unprotected, but the team decided it was too much of a risk.

Appel's future could be as a reliever, but the Phillies will continue to start him. The question is whether Appel can overcome frequent command problems.

DYLAN COZENS, OF
Age on Opening Day: 22
How Acquired: 2nd-round pick, 2012 draft

His power is prodigious, perhaps the best raw power in all the minor leagues as displayed by his 40 homers and 38 doubles. But Cozens must hit lefthanders better and resist the temptation to swing at breaking balls if he is to shake the projection of future platoon player.

Cozens, in 78 winter-ball at-bats in Venezuela, has batted .179 with 30 strikeouts, four homers and four doubles.

"How will he react to good breaking balls at the big-league level?" an American League scout said in September. "Will he be Russ Branyan or Adam Dunn? That's the biggest thing."

ELNIERY GARCIA, LHP
Age on Opening Day: 22
How Acquired: Signed as amateur free agent, Dec. 9, 2011

He is not a huge strikeout pitcher, but he is lefthanded and throws hard. The Dominican mastered single-A Clearwater with a 2.68 ERA and low walk rate (2.8 per nine). The Phillies bumped him to double-A Reading for a start in a postseason elimination game, and Garcia looked like he belonged. His fastball sat around 93-94 mph and hit 97. When the fastball is there, his curveball is an effective out pitch.

He'll be at Reading to start 2017.

ANDREW KNAPP, C
Age on Opening Day: 25
How Acquired: 2nd-round pick, 2013 draft

It's possible that Knapp is the Phillies' backup catcher in 2017. The team would prefer to have a veteran behind Cameron Rupp, and Knapp likely needs more minor-league seasoning. But with the 40-man roster crunch as it is, the Phillies may not be able to free a spot to sign another catcher.

Opposing scouts have viewed Knapp as trade bait because Jorge Alfaro is considered a better catching prospect. Knapp permitted 16 passed balls in 2016, which was more than the totals for 10 teams in the International League. But Knapp has a good on-base skill, and competent catchers are hard to find.

BEN LIVELY, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 25
How Acquired: Trade with Cincinnati, Dec. 31, 2014

Lively is a control pitcher who lives in the low 90s, so the ceiling is not particularly high. But he lowered his walk rate in each of the last three seasons as he ascended to more challenging minor-league levels. He sported a 2.69 ERA in 2016 with 2.2 walks per nine innings, enough to capture the organization's Paul Owens Award.

He is durable; Lively has made at least 25 starts in each of the last three seasons. That makes him a potential backend rotation arm who could contribute in 2017.

RICARDO PINTO, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 23
How Acquired: Signed as amateur free agent, Dec. 28, 2011

Despite his appearance in the annual Futures Game, it was a disappointing season for Pinto. His strikeout rate dipped, his walks were up, and he allowed twice as many homers as he did a season ago. One National League scout who saw Pinto in 2016 believed he was better suited for the bullpen. He was susceptible to unraveling in big innings. And it was not solely a Reading effect; Pinto's numbers at FirstEnergy Park were better than those on the road.

The Venezuelan has quality stuff, though. He is being used a reliever in winter ball, which has improved his strikeout rate.

NICK PIVETTA, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 24
How Acquired: Trade with Washington, July 28, 2015

The initial returns on the 2015 trade for Jonathan Papelbon were not great; Pivetta posted a 7.31 ERA in his first seven starts in the Phillies organization. But, in 2016, Pivetta was a different pitcher. His strikeout rate improved. His walks declined. He was a stabilizing force at double-A Reading, enough to earn a promotion to triple A for the final month of the season.

Pivetta had a 3.27 ERA in 27 starts. He struck out 8.4 per nine innings. He profiles as a possible No. 4 or 5 starter in the majors with a low-90s fastball.

"He was a different animal this year," Jordan said.

ALBERTO TIRADO, RHP
Age on Opening Day: 22
How Acquired: Trade with Toronto, July 31, 2015

The Phillies were able to leave Tirado unprotected last winter, but it was riskier this winter after a dramatic turnaround by the hard-throwing righty. Tirado, who throws 100 mph, struck out an obscene 14.2 batters per nine innings in A-ball. The Phillies started him for much of the season, but he profiles as a reliever.

"Tirado has the best arm in our system," Jordan said in September. "He really figured some things out." But walks have been Tirado's undoing; he has a career 5.8 walks per nine innings rate. The Phillies, though, took a chance on a big arm.

JESMUEL VALENTIN, 2B
Age on Opening Day: 22
How Acquired: Trade with Los Angeles, Aug. 7, 2014

Valentin, son of longtime big-leaguer Jose, profiles as a utility man in the majors. He reached triple A at the end of 2016 and has a career .348 on-base percentage in the minors. Valentin came to the Phillies in an August waiver deal that sent Roberto Hernandez to Los Angeles. That deal, made by Ruben Amaro Jr., now looks shrewd.

Valentin's primary position is second base, but he has experience at shortstop, third base and the corner outfield spots. The former first-round pick was suspended without pay for four months in 2015 following a domestic violence incident.

NICK WILLIAMS, OF
Age on Opening Day: 23
How Acquired: Trade with Texas, July 31, 2015

There is an argument for Williams being the most fascinating player in the entire organization when the 2017 season begins. Last season, he was batting .293/.330/.469 on July 15, exceptional numbers for a 22-year-old outfielder at triple A. But the final six weeks were so bad (.191/.203/.347) that they tainted Williams' year and cost him a September promotion to the majors.

Questions about maturity and plate discipline will linger into 2017, when Williams has much to prove.

"You can see him great and you can see him awful," an American League scout said last September. "It's all whether he can slow the game down. It's all in the head."