The Arizona Fall League, now in it’s 25th year, kicked off Tuesday night with an offensive bang as 42 runs were scored between the league’s six teams.
This year, the Salt River Rafters will feature seven Milwaukee Brewers prospects. Among them will be a range of those who are already established in the system as highly-regarded major-league hopefuls to those who are looking to make a name or rebound after rough years – of course, some also occupy more than one category.
If nothing else, the AFL is one more opportunity for fans to get a baseball fix once their respective teams have been knocked out of playoff contention. For Brewers fans, there is more than enough talent this year to generate some interest in the offseason.
Brett Phillips – OF
Phillips is the No. 7 prospect in the Brewers system and was previously slated to be the next big name to appear in the outfield, at least until the arrival of powerhouse Lewis Brinson. Before being traded to the Brewers in the Carlos Gomez deal, Phillips was the Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year in 2014, as he batted an impressive .310/.375/.529 with 87 runs, 17 home runs, 68 runs batted in and 23 stolen bases between Low-A and High-A.
His progress continued into 2015 as he added a .309/.374/.527 slash line to his resume, along with 104 runs, 16 home runs, 77 RBI and 17 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A. Unfortunately, he hit a snag in 2016 and had a down year, batting .229/.332/.397 with 60 runs, 16 home runs, 62 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a strikeout rate of 29.8 percent in 124 games with Double-A Biloxi.
Given his track record, the AFL should give him a prime opportunity to bounce back, as at this time last year he played well, batting .346/.452/.538 with three doubles, a triple, three RBI and a stolen base in seven games. He’s already off to a good start in his first game this year, going 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, two runs, and a stolen base.
But offense isn’t the only thing Phillips is able to supply. His speed translates into the field as well, making him a plus defender in both center field (2.37 RF/9) and right (2.07 RF/9), especially with his above-average arm power and throwing accuracy. With the current selection of outfielders the Brewers will have next season, along with MLB Pipeline’s prediction of his best-suited position, it seems most likely that Phillips will be joining the right field ranks upon reaching the majors.
His major-league arrival is currently slated for the 2017 season but if he’s unable to turn things around between the fall league and early next season, when he will likely get moved to Triple-A, there’s a good chance it will be pushed back an additional year. Then again, Phillips already received a non-roster invite to spring training last year, and depending on how the outfield shakes out in the offseason, there may be room for him to make the 40-man roster if he shows improvement.
Jonathan Powell is the Managing Editor of Outside Pitch MLB and the Milwaukee Brewers writer. Follow him on Twitter @jonathannashhh.
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