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
- LHP Jesse Biddle
- 3B Maikel Franco
- LHP Adam Morgan
- IF Roman Quinn
- C/1B Tommy Joseph
- RHP Ethan Martin
- 3B Cody Asche
- RHP Jonathan Pettibone
- OF Carlos Tocci
- RHP Shane Watson
1. Jesse Biddle
Position: LHP
DOB: 10/22/1991
Height/Weight: 6’4’’ 225 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/L
Drafted/Acquired: 1st 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.
Strengths: Excellent size/strength; delivery is clean; arm works well; fastball is solid-average; can show plus velocity; throws it downhill with some life; curveball flashes plus and should work at that grade; good snap and sharp vertical movement; changeup has taken steps forward; average offering that might have a little more; can turn it over; will show a slider with some depth; good pitchability.
Weaknesses: Fastball is a setup, not standout pitch; velo can dip into fringe range; ordinary offering at times; fastball command needs refinement; can get loose in the zone; secondary command needs work; changeup needs to find more consistency; pitch can get deliberate and tipped.
Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter
Explanation of Risk: Moderate risk; mature body and solid-average arsenal; good feel for pitching; clean delivery.
Fantasy Future: Workhorse frame and deep arsenal should allow for innings and win/loss decisions; has bat missing ability, but won’t be huge strikeout arm at highest level.
The Year Ahead: The Double-A test for arms can be quite telling, as the bats can tune up velocity and track average secondary stuff. Biddle will need to refine his fastball command and sharpen his secondary offerings to maintain his lofty prospect status. He won’t be able to live in the zone with an average fastball without finding barrels, so keeping hitters off balance and off his fastball will be vital for success. If the fastball can live in the 90-93 range, it will have more than enough juice to play, and if he can spot it lower in the zone and get ahead on a regular basis, his secondary offerings will look even better.
Major league ETA: 2014
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