Phils catching prospect Alfaro off to good start

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of Tampa baserunner never had a chance as he began his slide into second base and the ball was waiting to meet him. The right arm of Jorge Alfaro - the Phillies' top catching prospect - claimed another victim.

Alfaro was acquired in July from Texas, but he missed the rest of the minor-league season with an ankle injury. An 8-3 exhibition win on Sunday helped unravel some of his mystery. Alfaro threw out Tampa's Matt Piatt by a few feet in the fourth inning. He drove in a run in the first and hustled to score from second base on a single in the third.

The 22-year-old has a chance to be the key return of the Cole Hamels trade. He hits for power and has an extremely strong arm. Alfaro's time in major-league spring training will serve as his showcase.

"He has every tool a catcher could ever want," said catching coach John McLaren. "He runs well for a catcher. He has a Pudge Rodriguez arm. We're just getting him into a comfortable position."

McLaren is concentrating this spring on Alfaro's work behind the plate. McLaren, double-A manager Dusty Wathan, and catching coordinator Ernie Whitt work each morning to improve Alfaro's footwork, positioning, and pitch receiving. The prospect is a willing learner, McLaren said.

During group instruction, the coaches pair Alfaro with Carlos Ruiz. McLaren said Alfaro's working with Ruiz is "one huge advantage." The veteran catcher, McLaren said, wants to help everyone.

"He's helped me with defense, calling games, even outside the field. He's helped with everything," Alfaro said. "I just want to pick something from that brain. He's really smart. He's a really good catcher. Whatever I can learn from him, I will. I'm the kind of guy that if I don't know the answer, I'll look for it."

Jeremy Hellickson, who pitched a scoreless inning to start Sunday's game, said he could tell he would enjoy throwing to Alfaro as the pair warmed up in the bullpen. The catcher's 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame provides a nice target, Hellickson said.

Alfaro will likely begin the season at double-A Reading and work with Wathan, a former major-league catcher. Andrew Knapp, the team's other catching prospect, batted .360 last season in 55 games for Reading and seems ticketed for triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Knapp, a switch-hitter, went 1 for 3 Sunday with a two-run single in the first. He started as the designated hitter before moving to first base for the final three innings. Knapp borrowed Darin Ruf's first-base glove and quipped that he will ask his agent to send him one of his own.

If the Phillies have their way, both prospects will continue to push toward the majors and force the team to make a decision. The team believes both players can move to the outfield or first base, if needed.

"I think it will be good competition," said Aaron Nola, who pitched a scoreless second inning. "We have a lot of good catchers here. That's why spring training is going to be fun. It's going to be competitive."

Knapp spent some time this offseason at first base in the Arizona Fall League. Manager Pete Mackanin said he used Knapp at first on Sunday because the team was shorthanded. Knapp had not worked there yet this spring. He's expected to spend the rest of his time in camp behind the plate as the Phillies take a closer look at two of their top prospects.

"Whatever it takes to stay in the lineup," Knapp said. "If that's where I end up and I'm in the big leagues, then I don't think I'm really worried about it that much. As long as I'm in the big leagues playing every day. That's all that matters."

mbreen@phillynews.com

@matt_breen