Adam Morgan continues to draw raves
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Adam Morgan continues to draw raves
David Murphy
A month ago, I didn't know who Adam Morgan was. On Thursday, a scout who watched his Double-A debut labeled him as one of his favorite prospects in the organization. The rough comparison I've heard is Chris Capuano, the veteran lefty who is currently thriving with the Dodgers.
Right now, he projects as a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation guy, but cheap back-of-the-rotation pitching is something that the Phillies are going to need in the coming seasons as Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee play out their deals and Vance Worley's salary stats progressing through the arbitration process. The book on Morgan: not as much of a ceiling as Trevor May or Jesse Biddle, but a higher floor. He's more polished, and could be in a position to contribute as early as later next season. That is a fast timetable for a guy who was drafted in the third round out of Alabama in June of 2011. The 2014 season is a more likely projection. But Morgan has already skipped low-A, and this season posted a 3.29 ERA, 10.2 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and allowed just seven home runs in 123 innings at Clearwater. Last night, in his Double-A debut, he held the Yankees' Double-A affiliate to two walks and one hit while striking out six in seven scoreless innings.
Morgan, the Phillies' minor league pitcher of the month for July, is 22 years old, which is how old Vance Worley was when he made his major league debut.
^
I'm here at Citizens Bank Park awaiting the start of the ceremony honoring Mike Lieberthal, the longtime catcher who will be inducted into (onto?) the Phillies Wall of Fame. I took part in an interview with Lieberthal on Daily News Live in which he said that the club had told him last year that it would likely come down to him or Curt Schilling for induction. Schilling obviously left the organization on less rosier terms than Lieberthal did, so it will be interesting how the Phillies proceed with next year's selection process.
^
There has been lots of talk about Tyler Cloyd lately given his sparkling numbers at Double and Triple-A this season. But another pitcher to watch is righty Jonathan Pettibone, who has 11 strikeouts, five walks and five earned runs in 11 innings over two starts since his promotion to Triple-A. Pettibone is only 21 years old, drafted in 2008, when the Phillies went over slot to coax him out of a scholarship to USC.
^
Domonic Brown is making is season debut in right field, the position he played all the way up to the point the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence last season. Nate Schierholtz is getting his first major league start in center field. So those are two things to watch in tonight's game against the Cardinals.
Buy Phillies tickets - Actually, no, he was well above average, particularly as a catcher!
— BEMiller - Morgan has taken fine to his fast track along with fellow college pitcher and 2011 draft pick Austin Wright, who jumped Lakewood together...In Morgan,Biddle, and Wright, that's three lefties on the horizon with the ability to pitch in the majors, so expect one or two in a deal for a third base prospect really close to being ready, rather than the weak field of Free Agents available...Pettibone again was great in LV, going 7 shutout innings,yielding but 2 hits. He's advanced in the art of pitching like Cloyd despite not being overly impressive to the naked eye...Remember the names, they're a coming..or going.— bearsfriend
- Dead on @bears.
Despite the pleas and pleadings of most Phils fans to not trade 'prospects', the farm holds the keys to filling a big bat, and a 3B replacement, through a trade or trades.— 24sDad - I am impressed by Domonic Brown's professionalism so far in this incarnation of his major league career. He looks confident at the plate and in the field. He is taking much better routes to fly balls than in the past and his demeanor in the batter's box is one that produces problems for pitchers. He makes good contact. He is selective. He can draw a walk. He is beginning to show that he does best when the chips are down. I thought he might even light a spark under John Mayberry but so far, that has happened only on a couple of occasions. I think he needed the promotion; with some players, they rise to the occasion. If he keeps this up, you can write him in for one outfield post for next year. Maybe they will have to consider a Mayberry/Pierre platoon. Pierre is more than anyone could have hoped for. If he's lost any speed, he must have been a turbojet before! It looks like the biggest hole to fill will be third base. I think they should go after Kevin Youkilis as a stopgap. He plays baseball like a Phillie. He is lunchbucket all the way and will fit in with Jimmy, Ryan and Chase in the infield. He still has some pop in his bat and with Freddie Galvis as a glove off the bench, the infield could return to being a strength. Utley looks like he is back. His knees are a ticking time bomb but he has rebuilt his lost strength and is powering the ball. I am surprised, but Howard's lack of speed doesn't seem like much of a handicap. He never was a gazelle and has always been a smart baserunner. A lot of sluggers have been sluggish on the basepaths.— gotedge
- LEIBY HAD ONE REALLY GOOD YEAR ... IT is Juan Samuel's induction that forever cheapened the wall ...
Which prospects get dealt for a 3rd baseman for next year ?— FatBoy90 - Great to see all the best prospects are pitchers since this team couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag.— Lobo19722
- Bear and 24
You are right. When people say our minors are empty, I don't think they realize ALL the pitching they drafted/acquired. That is like cold hard baseball cash! They'll turn it around (I think).— Drumphil - I was at the Reading-Trenton game on Thursday night and watched the gem Adam Morgan threw from a seat right behind the plate. This was a dominant performance and I have high hopes for Morgan. Morgan is a pitcher and not a thrower. His change up is major league caliber already and his fastball was accurate and on the corners all night. I'd like to see more of a breaking ball from him and that needs work..Joseph is a nice catcher behind the plate and has a strong arm.. I was not impressed with his hitting that night as he had a weak game at the bat..Morgan shows me more than Kendrick ever did and I think he could be a 5th starter within a few years..— bradco
- Good thing for you guys this kid is coming along! When Trevor May is your best pitching prospect, ummmm, let's just say it'll be crucial that some other guys step up. LOL!— Curlydubs
- Capuano?, you got to be kidding me.— EL Zorro
- Way to go Murph, you get paid to cover the Phillies and don't know the minor league players? A lot of us with day jobs know who the kid is.— EL Zorro
- Way to go Murph, you get paid to cover the Phillies and don't know the minor league players? A lot of us with day jobs know who the kid is.— EL Zorro
- lezcano was a good hitter with the brewers didnt do alot with phillies.— only 9
- And, that would be with his exceptionally short time with Phillies, though it might have seemed longer than it was when he was actually here! — BEMiller
- I want the Phils to immediately move Darin Ruf to 3b play him the rest of the year there no matter what. He is a great fielding 3B, how bad could he be compared to what the Phils have this year (Wigginton,Fontenot). I'd also send him to winter league to play 3B. He actually has better stats than Mike Olt. They are both at AA Ruf is hitting .307 Olt .288, Ruf has 23 HR, Olt 28, Ruf 72RBI, Olt 82,Ruf 56BB 85K,Olt 61BB,101K. I would also do whatever I had to do to get OF Wil Myers from KC farm system. The kid is hitting .310 with 33Hrs and 93RBI's. You go with an outfield of D. Brown, Shierholtz, and Myers along with Darin Ruf at 3B and you have the perfect mix of youth and veterans and you add 2 20+ HR guys and now have 4 guys under age 30 and 4 over age 30 in the starting 8. The young guys will re-energize the old guys and we are back for another run at division champs and beyond.— REL3
