We're back for another week of Prospect Roundup. As I hinted at last week, I've kept "The Big Three" in place -- we all want to keep tabs on them, after all -- and mixed and matched for the other spots.
Check below the jump for info on a blogger, a Brazilian, a kid who's tight with Adam Sandler, and more.
Domonic Brown, OF-R, Reading: Brown's acclimation to Double-A continues to proceed well. He launched his first homer on Wednesday -- a towering shot that left the stadium -- and followed that up with a pair on Sunday. As an added bonus, he continues to control the strike zone (4 BBs and 5 Ks so far). Jason Heyward he's not (nobody is), but Double-A pitching has been little more than a speed bump to Brown so far (.333./412/.733), and the organizational depth chart in the outfield is starting to clog up in the upper levels.
Kyle Drabek, RHP, Reading: Drabek had a rough go of it on Saturday, going 5 innings, but surrendering 6 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 4 walks, and notching 4 strikeouts. I'm not sure exactly what he has left to prove this year -- he's healthy, he's smoothed his mechanics considerably, he's flashed the same filthy stuff that he had pre-surgery, he's dominated High-A and had some success at Double-A. I think it's nearing time to shut him down for the year, or at least move him to the bullpen temporarily to limit his innings.
Michael Taylor, OF-R, Lehigh Valley: It's been a bit of a struggle for Taylor in the last week -- he's gone a mere 5-for-24 since our last Prospect Roundup -- and his Triple-A line in 24 games sits at only .244/.337/.395. Still, with Ibanez, Werth and Victorino all entrenched in Philly, he's clearly going to start next year back at Lehigh Valley, so it's not a big deal if he takes some extra time to adjust. One cause for hope: a .258 BABIP is insanely low for a guy who has posted BABIPs of .408, .378, and .361 in his last three stops.
Vance Worley, RHP, Reading: After an impressive pro debut in 2008, the Phillies were aggressive with Worley in his first full pro season, assigning him to Double-A out of the chute. After a hot start, Worley has worn down as the season has progressed (his FIP by month, from April to July: 3.27, 4.33, 4.47, 4.68). But he's still only 21, and he's managed to post a 4.11 FIP while taking the ball every fifth day, and Thursday's start was a solid one: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Perhaps improved stamina will lead to a return next year to his impressive ground ball tendencies (57.8% last year, 42.7% this year), which combined with his control (still just 2.9 BB/9 this year), could ultimately make him an effective back-end starter.
Scott Mathieson, RHP, Reading: Subject of an excellent Mike Drago Reading Eagle article on Sunday, Mathieson finally surrendered his first run of the season in relief yesterday, but he's nonetheless turning some heads with his steady ascent back toward the majors. Drago reports that his fastball is back in the mid- to high-90s, and he's throwing an impressive change-up instead of the hard slider that shot him up prospect charts 3 years ago. I still think rushing him back to the majors this year is a dicey proposition, but if he continues to flash good stuff, it's not out of the question.
Heitor Correa, RHP, Lakewood: Correa, a Brazilian, looked to have a bright future when he served as the GCL Phillies' best pitcher in 2007 at the tender age of 17, but a lost 2008 (he was "suspended for team violation") pushed him far from everyone's minds. He popped back up again in Lakewood this year, and Wednesday's outing is pretty indicative of what he's done this year: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. He sports a 3.80 FIP with a 6.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 98.2 IP, and he's inducing an impressive 51.0% GB. Still just 19 (until August 25), he's back on the prospect radar with a bang.
Kelly Dugan, OF-S, GCL Phillies: The organization's top draft choice this year (75th overall), Dugan has experienced ups and downs in his first taste of pro ball, hitting a mere .234/.301/.306 in 120 plate appearances. He was much better this past week though, going 5-for-17 with a pair of doubles, 3 walks (to only 2 strikeouts), and a stolen base. He's struggled mightily hitting right-handed (.106/.176/.106 in 51 PA), so that's an obvious area to improve on going forward. An area in which young Kelly needs no improvement, however, is in celebrity acquaintances, as this picture will attest.
Michael Schwimer, RHP, Clearwater: The organization's 12th round pick in 2008, it will be interesting to see how fast Schwimer and 13th round pick B.J. Rosenberg, both hard-throwing relievers, progress. The 6'8", 240-lb. Schwimer looked to be moving faster with his initial assignment to High-A, but Rosenberg has taken the "lead" with his recent promotion to Double-A. Schwimer's been excellent in the FSL, posting a 2.41 FIP, 11.1 K/9, and 3.1 BB/9 in 49.1 IP. The only thing to nitpick is his GB%, which has fallen to 44.1% this year from 61.7% last year. Did I mention he blogs over at Phuture Phillies?
Chance Chapman, RHP, Reading: Another reliever? Well, Chapman's done nothing but post good numbers since he's been in pro ball -- albeit at an advanced age, as he's already 25. Moved to the bullpen this year, he shot quickly through Clearwater to Reading, where he's now tallied 36 Ks to only 14 BBs in 36.1 IP, good for a 3.14 FIP. He's probably a middle reliever at best, but after living through the Ed Wade era, it's nice to grow your own middle relievers for a change, no? I'm a believer in Chapman making it.
Jeremy Barnes, SS-R, Williamsport: Barnes isn't much of a "prospect" in the classic sense of the term, but he's a guy I find intriguing nonetheless. A 4-year player at Notre Dame, Barnes had an impressive senior year, hitting .353/.442/.655 with 15 HRs and a 35:34 BB:K ratio while playing shortstop. He's gone on to strike out quite a bit for Williamsport (24.0% K), but he's walked a little (8.0% BB), flashed some pop (.174 ISO), and posted a solid .301/.368/.475 in 202 plate appearances. He should probably start next year at Clearwater, but he looks like he's got a shot as a utility infield type, and for an organization that still employs Eric Bruntlett and his 7 OPS+, there's some value in that.