Philadelphia Phillies

Minor-League Playoffs Will Delay Phillies September Call-Ups

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In a lost Phillies season, some fans are eager to see young prospects in the majors. For better or worse, those prospects will be delayed by AAA Lehigh Valley’s and AA Reading’s playoff runs.

When a team is rebuilding, September is one bright spot in an otherwise downtrodden season. As the rosters expand, prospects in the upper minors have the opportunity to make their major-league debuts. This Phillies season would provide just that, were it not for the success of the Phillies’ minor-league affiliates.

Both AAA Lehigh Valley and AA Reading are bound for the playoffs. Lehigh Valley maintains a 3.5 game lead in the International League wild-card standings. Meanwhile, Reading has already secured a playoff berth as they posses a 1.5 game lead in the Eastern League East and the best record in the Eastern League.

After making it to the Eastern League finals in 2015, the Reading Fightin’ Phils look to take the championship home this time around. Reading’s lineup is stacked with prospect talent, including Jorge Alfaro, Roman Quinn, Scott Kingery, Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins.

Manager Pete Mackanin expressed his desire for Phillies’ minor leaguers to get experience in a winning environment:

“The benefit is that you want to develop a winning culture,” Mackanin said. “You want your guys to want to win games. That has to be their most important goal, instead of looking out for themselves to have a good year. You want them to have good years, but at the same time do everything it takes to win a game. Get a bunt down. Move the runner. Make the plays. Make the pitches.”

While the Phillies will keep many of their prospects in the playoff hunts, the Phillies will still add a few players when the roster expands. Mackanin said the Phillies will add “a couple of relievers, maybe a hitter” when the Phillies head to Atlanta on Friday. Those ended up being Darin Ruf, Colton Murray, and Patrick Schuster.

The bullpen could also see the return of Elvis Araujo and Luis Garcia. Another starter or two could join the rotation as the Phillies will look to limit the workloads of Vince Velasquez and Jerad Eickhoff.

However, once the IronPigs and Fightin’ Phils are finished with the playoffs, a couple of prospects could see the majors. Jorge Alfaro and Roman Quinn are both already on the 40-man roster and are likely to make their pro debuts in September. Quinn is recovering from a concussion, but is reportedly doing well.

Alec Asher could join the rotation as well after he returns from an injury and his PED suspension. Jimmy Cordero, who the team acquired in the Ben Revere trade, could help out an overtaxed Phillies bullpen. He was recently promoted to Lehigh Valley after the call-ups of Schuster and Murray.