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January 11, 2013

Prospects Will Break Your Heart

Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects

State of the Farm: “But I can't get through. My hands are tied. I won't want to stay. I don't have much to say. But I can't turn away. And you won't see me. You won't see me.”

Prospect rankings primer

The Top Ten

1. Jesse Biddle
Position: LHP
DOB: 10/22/1991
Height/Weight: 6’4’’ 225 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Acquired: 1^st round, 2010 draft, Germantown Friends High School
(Philadelphia, PA)
2012 Stats: 3.22 ERA (142.2 IP, 129 H, 151 K, 54 BB) at High-A Clearwater
The Tools: 5+ FB; 6 potential CB; 5+ potential CH

What Happened in 2012: Biddle made 26 starts in the Florida State League and emerged as a top 100 prospect in baseball and the top talent in the Phillies system.

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36 comments have been left for this article.

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ttt

With regards to Biddle's changeup, what does "can turn it over" mean?

Jan 11, 2013 04:44 AM

rating: 1

Chris Mellen

BP staff

Based on the way a circle changeup is gripped, when executed properly the rotation produced causes arm-side movement and the ball breaks down/inward or fades to that side. The pitcher "turned over his changeup" or he can "turn it over" means he can produce that movement and finish. As opposed to a straight changeup, which will break downward some on the approach to the plate and look like it is dropping.

Jan 11, 2013 05:04 AM

Mark Anderson

BP staff

On every pitch, the arm naturally pronates (that is, turns outward, with the hand/arm rotating clockwise for a left-hander and counter clockwise for a right-hander). Try and watch a slow motion of any pitch leaving the pitchers hand, even on a slider or curveball, and you will see this pronation of the arm near the release point.

This movement often gets exaggerated with a change-up as the pitcher tries to impart additional spin/movement on the pitch. That added pronation is often referred to as "turning it over."

Jan 11, 2013 04:52 AM

MattWinks

Is Ben Revere not good enough for the under 25 list or was he left off?

Jan 11, 2013 05:02 AM

rating: 3

Mark Anderson

BP staff

Maybe I'm out on an island, but I just don't think Ben Revere is that good. He makes contact but it is almost all weak contact and he can run. Even with a quality defensive profile in the outfield, that doesn't do it for me. I think he's kind of an empty player overall. I'm willing to concede that I could be underrating him, though.

Jan 11, 2013 09:27 AM

JoshC77

Would you call him Alex Cole Jr.? (I would)

...I think that he is one of those guys that have more build-up around them because of fantasy baseball where is base-stealing ability makes him far more useful than his real-life skill-set suggests...

Jan 11, 2013 10:13 AM

rating: 0

melanimal

Certainly Revere is a better player than Freddy Galvis

Jan 11, 2013 12:34 PM

rating: 0

apbadogs

I'm definitely not a pitching expert but something about the picture of Biddle throwing a pitch on the top of this article just doesn't look right. His form looks dreadful to me.

Jan 11, 2013 05:24 AM

rating: -1

apbadogs

To expand on my thoughts...his front appears to be way to far open or his arm dragging behind, just looks odd to me. Reading Jason's comments I see he notes his "delivery is clean" so it must just be me.

Jan 11, 2013 05:25 AM

rating: -1

Jason Parks

BP staff

Clean deliveries don't always look clean, especially in young arms. The younger they are, the more likely that the mechanical profile and delivery execution are inconsistent. What looks clean and easy for three innings might go sour in the next appearance. Most of the reports on Biddle had positive things to say about his delivery. Hard to scout a pitcher based on a picture, so I can't speak to that.

Jan 11, 2013 08:37 AM

granne

What about sr. Parada?

Jan 11, 2013 07:13 AM

rating: 0

JPinPhilly

I don't know if anyone considers Parada a real prospect but I've kept an eye on him since he started pitching shutouts in the VSL. He had a perfecto in July where he struck out 14.

Who knows what the level of competition down there is like though.

Jan 11, 2013 20:23 PM

rating: 0

mranney

Is Jiwan James still a prospect as a 4th OF ?

Jan 11, 2013 07:25 AM

rating: 0

Jason Parks

BP staff

Fringe prospect

Jan 11, 2013 08:34 AM

Governator

In the same vein, what did you hear about Tyson Gillies this year? He had a good year at the plate but didn't swipe many bags, and continued to deal with some injury problems. I've read that his speed isn't what it was though he continues to be a plus center fielder. Is he a fringe guy now for you as well?

Jan 11, 2013 09:03 AM

rating: 0

BobcatBaseball

Is Gauntlett Eldemire a guy to watch still? He also has 80 run but can't seem to stay healthy

Jan 11, 2013 07:50 AM

rating: 0

philly

Jason

Can you give us a general sense of where Trevor May might have slotted in and a quick hit on his report?

Will you eventually write him up and slot him in the already passed Twins?

Thanks.

Jan 11, 2013 08:42 AM

rating: 2

LorenzoLoon

Why no mention of Darin Ruf?

Jan 11, 2013 08:44 AM

rating: -3

Jason Parks

BP staff

There is a mention of Darin Ruf

Jan 11, 2013 08:46 AM

DarinRuf18

yeah, honestly i dont see how he can be left off the top 10 for the Phillies. as a Phils diehard, i understand their system is void of top-tier talent, and in all reality, if they get a few decent regulars out of this top 10, i think you have to consider that a win. with that said, i understand these arent fantasy baseball rankings, and you have to consider defense and baserunning...but i still think Ruf should have been ranked. i prolly would have put him somewhere around 7th. If you look at the last decade with the Phils, one can point to Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz as examples of guys that were a bit older when they arrived in the bigs, and still had great success. i think on the potential of hitting 25-30 HR alone, Ruf deserves a spot over some of the back-end guys. I actually think that a platoon of Ruf and Howard at 1B would be perfect, given that Howard hasnt gotten a hit off a lefty since Junior High, and Ruf kills lefties...but i guess you cant platoon a 125 million dollar guy. what. a. terrible. contract. thanks. reuben. i hear KC is looking for some front office personnel to strengthen their grip on dumbest FO in baseball. ill pay for the plane ticket?

Jan 11, 2013 11:30 AM

rating: -2

DeathSpeculum

wow, dom brown's place on the under 25 list is damning.

what's the deal with larry greene? 25% k rate, an iso smaller than the number of good poems jim morrison ever wrote, questions about the bat speed?

Jan 11, 2013 08:52 AM

rating: 1

Jason Parks

BP staff

Several sources did question his bat speed.

Jan 11, 2013 08:53 AM

RFKRFK

Would Tyler Cloyd even make the Top 10 25/- if he was a couple months younger?

Jan 11, 2013 08:52 AM

rating: 0

Mark Anderson

BP staff

With only 33 innings of MLB experience, Cloyd was actually eligible for the prospect side of the rankings. That he didn't factor in there says a lot about where he would have slotted on the Under-25 side, if eligible.

Jan 11, 2013 09:26 AM

SC

Time running out for the toolshed that is Anthony Hewitt? Don't see any progression in his numbers, and he's suddenly not so young. Any hope there?

Jan 11, 2013 10:46 AM

rating: 1

Jason Parks

BP staff

I don't have any hope.

Jan 11, 2013 10:52 AM

JAPHLG22

Jason, how would you compare this year's Phillies system to 2012?

Jan 11, 2013 11:53 AM

rating: 0

Rich

Seemingly based on his AFL performance, Zach Collier was protected for the Rule 5 draft. Is his ceiling a 4th outfielder, or could he become an everyday CF down the line?

Jan 11, 2013 12:24 PM

rating: 0

Jason Parks

BP staff

I don't see him as a regular at the highest level; role 4/bench OF

Jan 11, 2013 12:28 PM

Doom Service

Can Justin De Fratus be more than he is? Before arm surgery, I thought he had late inning - maybe even closer - stuff.

Jan 11, 2013 16:05 PM

rating: 0

Ryno23

Jason, any hope for Julio Rodriguez?

Jan 13, 2013 19:01 PM

rating: 0

juiced

The Phillies are in a tough spot. They have a huge payroll, a veteran roster that isnt really good enough to compete with the big boys in their division or league anymore, and the cupboard is bare on the farm. 2013 is their last year of faux competitiveness for a fifth wildcard spot at best then it's steadily downhill with the mirage dissapating like smoke.

Jan 13, 2013 20:46 PM

rating: -3

DarinRuf18

hmm, a nats fan?...last i checked theyve still got Halladay, Lee, and Hamels. Need I say more?

Jan 14, 2013 05:45 AM

rating: -2

juiced

No, a Giants fan. The Phillies still have "the big 3" but that's about all they have at this point. And Halladay's velocity and performance was way down last year to boot, so it may be more of a big 2.5 considering the tread on his tires.

Jan 14, 2013 17:04 PM

rating: -2

juiced

The Nats meanwhile have a big 3 to match the Phillies in addition to Dan Haren in the 4th spot and an outstanding starting lineup. The Phils are depending on Utley and Howard to be the core of their order, and both those guys are injury prone and several years removed from peak performance levels. Ben Revere is about as much of a leadoff man as Paul Revere.

Jan 14, 2013 17:05 PM

rating: -2

buckb2

Jesse Biddle looks like the kind of kid who'd take your lunch money in middle school.

Jan 14, 2013 17:42 PM

rating: 0

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<< Previous Article

Perfect Game World Sho... (01/11)

<< Previous Column

Prospects Will Break Y... (01/07)

Next Column >>

Prospects Will Break Y... (01/16)

Next Article >>

Overthinking It: Barga... (01/12)

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