25 Hotshot Philadelphia Phillies to Watch in 2012

Looking ahead to the 2012 season for the Philadelphia Phillies, there are a lot of things that we already know. Looking around the diamond, we know who most of the everyday players are. The same thing can be said about the starting rotation and the bullpen. We know who will fill most of those roles.

Beneath the surface, there are things that we do not know. We all know that Ryan Howard has the potential to hit 40 home runs a season, but can we say that about anyone else? We all know that Shane Victorino runs like a greyhound, but who else can steal bases? Fresh off of a new deal, we know that Jimmy Rollins can play defense, but are there a couple of Gold Glove-caliber defenders waiting in the wings?

One of the greatest aspects of the game of baseball is that no matter how advanced the statistics become, or how much instant replay is introduced to the game or how each organization's front office grows, baseball will always offer its fair share of surprises, and none of us will have seen them coming.

The Phillies may have a couple of those surprises in their organization. Sure, the roster plays host to a number of established veterans who've produced similar numbers over the course of their careers, but it also hosts a number of players with big question marks hanging over their heads.

Is that prospect ready to take the next step? Can this guy become an everyday player? Will that guy make an impact on the MLB? Can this veteran stay healthy? Can that veteran produce?

For the sake of this slideshow, we'll call those guys "hotshot" players. This means that no matter the level of talent they poses, they have something to prove in 2012, and whether or not they can prove themselves can have a tremendous impact on the Phillies at some level.

Is the future in the hands of these 25 hotshot players?

Phillippe Aumont

The center-piece of the deal that sent Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2010 season, the 2012 campaign may be a huge one in the career of Phillies right-handed relief prospect Phillippe Aumont.

Acquired from the Mariners as a starting pitcher, Aumont struggled in that role in the Phils organization, and they subsequently moved him into the bullpen, but were not convinced that said role milked his potential in its entirety. They would bounce him back and forth between the two roles for most of the season in 2010. 

By the time the 2011 season rolled around, they had decided that his future was in the bullpen, and Aumont became a full-time reliever. He responded well, posting big strikeout numbers and advancing all the way to AAA Lehigh Valley, as the Phillies added him to the 40-man roster following the season.

In 2012, Aumont will be very much the center of attention. The tall right hander figures prominently into the future of the Phillies bullpen, and depending on variables like injury and personal progression, could be in the MLB sometime during the next season.

Antonio Bastardo

Had Antonio Bastardo not emerged to have the type of season that he did in 2011, the Phillies bullpen probably would have been in serious trouble. When Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Jose Contreras all hit the disabled list during the season, Bastardo stepped up in a big way to develop into that back end of the bullpen reliever.

So why is he on this list?

Bastardo is another guy that is a former starting pitcher now excelling in the bullpen, and he will reprise his role as the set-up man in 2012. The question is whether or not the month of September was a fluke for Bastardo in 2011.

After being basically untouchable for most of the season, the opposition seemed to figure him out late in the season. Pitching coach Rich Dubee tinkered with his mechanics, fearing that the lefty may be tipping his pitches.

As the season wound down, Bastardo seemed to have corrected most of the inconsistencies in his delivery, and truth be told, manager Charlie Manuel used him frequently. Entering his second season as the club's set-up man, Bastardo will need to be light's out again and prove that the role is his to keep.

Joe Blanton

After spending most of the season on the disabled list in 2011, Joe Blanton is on this list for one obvious reason: He needs to prove he is healthy. If his pitching elbow is operating at 100 percent, Blanton is a guy who can soak up some innings at the back of a rotation.

To take a deeper look at the situation, Blanton returned at the end of the regular season in noticeably better shape, and the results of his pitching followed suit. Operating out of the bullpen, Blanton found ways to be effective and posted an FIP of just 0.96 in the month of September.

Is it wrong to expect better results out of Blanton than we have seen in the past heading into the 2012 season? An improved Blanton would help offset the loss of veteran starter Roy Oswalt.

Domonic Brown

Just from listening to the consensus, a lot of people seem to have given up on Domonic Brown. Anyone who has seen video of the young outfielder playing with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs following his demotion last season may believe that Brown has given up on himself.

However, it is far too soon to give up on Brown, who in my opinion, has the potential to completely change the landscape of the Phillies' lineup in 2012.

The real question is whether or not Brown has what it takes to play defense in the MLB, and considering that the Phillies won a World Series with Pat Burrell stumbling around in left field, I'm not convinced that the Phils seriously intend to have Brown spend a full season with AAA.

We know that the man can hit. At the time of his demotion in 2011, Brown had one of the roster's better strikeout to walk ratios and posted an OBP of .333 on the season. Is there room for improvement? Of course. However, with Ryan Howard set to open the season on the disabled list, a great spring training could help Brown break camp with the Phils.

No one on the roster has more to prove.

Tyler Cloyd

Tyler Cloyd is an interesting prospect in a number of ways. After spending most of the last few seasons in the bullpen at different levels of the Phillies organization, Cloyd made the full-time transition into the starting rotation at AA Reading last season, and the results were surprisingly spectacular.

Though he logged just over 100 innings in 17 starts, it was not difficult to see just how effective the right hander was. He posted an ERA of 2.78 (2.82 FIP) and a strikeout to walk rate of 6.60.

With most of the Phillies top starting pitching prospects further away from the MLB and little depth in the upper tiers of the farm system, 2012 has the potential to be vastly important for Cloyd, who should wind up pitching for the IronPigs at some point during the season with the potential to fly under the radar all the way to the MLB.

Brody Colvin

Brody Colvin isn't particularly close to making an impact in the MLB, but 2012 is going to be extremely important for the starting pitcher nonetheless.

After spending the last couple of seasons within the Phillies top five prospects, Baseball America dropped him all the way to eighth for the upcoming season after he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. Lingering questions about both of those problems surrounding Colvin moving forward, and his goal should be nothing more than prove he is healthy and on his way to the top.

Doing that won't be easy. A number of starting pitchers with ace-like potential have emerged, and for Colvin to leapfrog them back to the top, he will have to have a particularly strong season, but should he be healthy, few starters have the same ceiling as he.

Justin De Fratus

One of the few places that the Phillies have depth in the upper levels of their minor league system is in the bullpen. We've already covered Phillippe Aumont, who has the greatest potential of that group, but the safest bet to be an above-average reliever may just be fellow right-handed reliever Justin De Fratus.

Unlike Aumont, there aren't many questions surrounding De Fratus. He has great control, throws a plus fastball and has one nasty slider. After tossing 41 innings in AAA last season to the tune of a 2.44 FIP and 5.09 K/BB, there is an argument to be made that there is nothing left for him in AAA.

De Fratus is ready for the MLB, and with a good spring training, he may have an opportunity to break camp with the team.

Jake Diekman

2011 was a big year for Jake Diekman. Never considered much of a prospect in the Phillies organization, the lefty blew past most of those low expectations and made a name for himself in the system. Impressed by his effectiveness against left-handed hitters, the Phillies added him to the 40-man roster following the season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and sent him to the Arizona Fall League to hone his skills.

Diekman was quite impressive in his AFL stint and opened an express lane to the MLB for himself. As a left-handed specialist, Diekman has the potential to move quickly through the system, and with an impressive campaign in 2012, could throw himself into the bullpen mix.

Maikel Franco

Maikel Franco is another player that came out of seemingly nowhere in 2011 to open a few eyes. Signed as an amateur free agent, Franco is one of the few third basemen in the Phillies system with any potential for an above average impact at the MLB level.

As he continues to grow into his frame, the 19-year-old out of the Dominican Republic should be able to hit for power, and he is adept enough defensively that he should be able to stay at the hot corner for the long haul.

2012 is a big season for Franco. Though he's young, Baseball America took the liberty of ranking him 10th among Phillies prospects, and as long as his development is steady, the lack of a future third baseman in the MLB for the Phillies should bode well for Franco.

Freddy Galvis

Had Jimmy Rollins not re-signed with the Phillies this winter, Freddy Galvis would have been an even more intriguing name to follow, as he would have competed for the starting shortstop job. Now, with Rollins back aboard, Galvis' role and future have been drastically altered.

Now, instead of heading to Philadelphia, Galvis will be heading back to Lehigh Valley, where he will have an opportunity to refine his approach at the plate. Defensively, Galvis is MLB ready. On the other side of the ball, the young shortstop still has plenty of work to do.

A nice first half could open a different avenue for Galvis, as he would more than likely draw considerable trade interest.

Harold Garcia

2012 is going to be a big year for a couple of different prospects who have been in the Phillies system for a while and have had a small fall from grace. The first of those players is second baseman Harold Garcia, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Though he has continued to put up some impressive offensive numbers, Garcia has struggled to stay on the field. He has played in more than 100 games just once in his four-year career with the Phillies.

With the upper levels of the Phillies system lacking depth in the middle infield, a healthy, productive season from Garcia will be beneficial for the second baseman in the long run. With an aging middle infield at the MLB level and sub-par replacements, Garcia could prove beneficial in the near future.

Cesar Hernandez

Much like Harold Garcia, Cesar Hernandez is another second baseman in the Phillies organization that has to step up and prove that he can compete in 2012. Once heralded as a possible heir to Chase Utley at second base, Hernandez is another guy who hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations as of yet.

A slick-fielding second baseman, Hernandez struggled at the plate after he was promoted to Clearwater this past season. If he wants to be considered among the Phils top prospects once again, he'll need to be much more dynamic at the plate, cutting back on strikeouts and drawing more walks.

Austin Hyatt

Without much starting pitching depth in the upper levels of the minor league system, Austin Hyatt could become an interesting name for the Phillies in a number of different ways.

The first is as a starting pitcher. Hyatt made 28 starts for the Reading Phillies in 2011 and posted some impressive numbers. He was 12-6 with an ERA 3.85 (3.76 FIP) and a WHIP of 1.20. With most of the top tier pitching still at least a couple of years away, there is a case to be made to keep Hyatt in the rotation.

However, most scouts project him as a reliever because of his repertoire of pitches. Like former Phillie Ryan Madson, Hyatt throws a good fastball but a better change-up, which Baseball America has named the best in the organization. This could make him an effective reliever, especially against right handed hitters.

With Justin De Fratus, Phillippe Aumont, Michael Schwimer, etc. expected to be in the MLB, Hyatt may fill a need in the bullpen.

Jiwan James

The Phillies originally drafted Jiwan James as a starting pitcher, but it didn't take long to realize that his greatest upside was in the outfield. Though there was a lot of work to be done, James made the conversion from pitcher to outfielder, and the Phillies have to be pleased with the results.

Defensively, the move made perfect sense. James has natural baseball instincts and talent to boot. He has great speed and covers a lot of ground. Once a pitcher, he also has a very strong throwing arm, and Baseball America named him both the best defensive outfielder and best throwing arm in the organization.

The biggest question mark is at the plate, where James has struggled. A member of the Phils' top 10 prospects, a big 2012 would go a long way for the former pitcher, as he makes his way towards the MLB.

Charlie Manuel

Most people wouldn't consider Charlie Manuel much of a "hotshot." When you expand that definition that I laid out on the first slide, however, it becomes apparent that this season is just as important for Manuel as it is for some of his players. When teams fail to live up to expectations, someone shoulders the blame. For the Phils, that guy is the skipper.

Ever since 2008 ended, the Phillies have been expected to go to the World Series at the end of each season, and they haven't cashed in since. Trending in the wrong direction, there should be an urgency for Manuel and his team to get the job done.

Though it is unlikely, should Manuel be watching over his shoulder? Most people believe that Ryne Sandberg, currently managing in AAA, is ready to take over the reigns for an MLB club.

Trevor May

Trevor May had a 2011 season that distanced himself from the rest of the "Baby Aces" and sent him flying towards the MLB. Now the top prospect in the Phillies organization, a similar 2012 campaign would be huge for May, who could be in line to join the back end of the Phils rotation as soon as 2013.

May will start the year in Reading, where the goal will be to work on his control. Though most of his numbers jumped off of the page in a good way in 2011, he did post a walk rate of 4.05 BB/9 last season. If he could drop that number to around three, he will be in an excellent position to at least compete for the chance to crack the Phils rotation in 2013.

John Mayberry, Jr.

There is certainly an argument to be made that no player in the entire organization has more to gain than outfielder John Mayberry, Jr. heading into the 2012 season. Once thought of as more of a bust than anything, the Phillies found some playing time for him in 2011, and he ran away with it.

After making a slight adjustment to his stance at the plate, Mayberry posted an OPS of .854 and hit 15 home runs. With Raul Ibanez's contract off the books, Mayberry figures to get most of the playing time in left field this season, though he'll also share some at-bats with lefty Laynce Nix and play some first base in the absence of Ryan Howard.

Whatever role he fills, the point is the same: A strong 2012 campaign could turn Mayberry into an everyday player, which, by proxy, would give the Phillies another right-handed threat at the plate.

Cody Overbeck

Cody Overbeck has never been considered much of a prospect for the Phillies, but he is a player to keep an eye on during the 2012 season. If the Phillies have proven anything at third base since the departure of Scott Rolen, it is the simple fact that they haven't been able to play quality third basemen on a consistent basis very often.

Though the job belongs to Placido Polanco, questions surrounding his health have the masses wondering whether or not he'll be able to stick there for the entire season, and more importantly, whether or not his offensive output constitutes the idea of keeping him there.

Should the Phillies need a replacement, Overbeck may be a guy that they'll look at on a short-term basis. Splitting the season between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley, Overbeck posted a combined OPS of .805 and hit 24 home runs.

Placido Polanco

Most people inside of the Phillies front office seem to believe that Placido Polanco can still be the club's every day third baseman, but most people outside of the organization seem to have a more realistic approach to Polanco's future—the man is not getting any younger.

Though he managed to play excellent defense at third base yet again in 2011, Polanco's offensive production was nearly nonexistent after the month of April. He posted a wRC+ (which attempts to measure how many runs a player is responsible for helping to create and balances them on a league average, where 100 is the norm) of just 88—his second consecutive season beneath the 100-mark plateau.

The Phillies attempted to trade the third baseman during the winter meetings, but were unsuccessful. But truth be told, having Polanco aboard may not be a bad thing. If the Phillies are able to stay healthy, especially after Ryan Howard's return, the team may have enough offense to give them the wiggle room of having an outstanding defensive third baseman.

The real question is: Can Polanco stay healthy? If not, we may be seeing a new third baseman by as soon as the trade deadline.

Matt Rizzotti

In a lot of ways, the career progression of Matt Rizzotti seems to mirror that of fellow first baseman Ryan Howard. With impressive minor league numbers, Rizzotti has opened a few eyes, but it blocked at the MLB level by Howard. If the Phillies didn't have as many options on the current 25-man roster, he may have gotten a shot at the job while Howard is shelved.

Instead, he'll be invited to spring training without any legitimate shot at making the roster. Rizzotti may find himself auditioning for other teams. With many teams seeking affordable, power-hitting first basemen, Rizzotti may be a valuable trade chip for the Phillies.

With another season of 20 or more home runs, will Rizzotti still factor into the Phillies' future?

Julio Rodriguez

Recently, I made a few predictions about the future of Julio Rodriguez that caused a bit of a stir. In that slideshow, I predicted that Rodriguez would struggle against more advanced hitters because of his unusual repertoire, and there was a strong showing of support for the Phillies prospect.

Regardless of whether he struggles or succeeds, there is no question that 2012 is going to be a pivotal season for the right hander. After a very strong showing with Clearwater last season, expectations are high for Rodriguez.

He collected 16 wins and posted an ERA of 2.76, but there is reason to believe that he will regress this season, especially against more seasoned hitters. His BABIP (batting average on balls in play) was extremely low—.238—a number that simply cannot be sustained. While his FIP of 3.46 was respectable, it surely was not as impressive as his ERA, and these numbers show that it would be more reasonable to expect less from Rodriguez moving forward.

A great season may move him into the Phils' top tier of pitching prospects, but if he struggles, that may set him back even further.

Joe Savery

Joe Savery's career with the Phillies has been a ride so wild that it makes the most daunting of roller coasters seem tame, and the terrifying (or thrilling) aspect of his journey is that the tracks aren't finished winding yet.

After successfully making the transition into the bullpen in 2011, Savery once again put himself on the radar. Having failed as both a hitter and starting pitcher, Savery began using his handedness to his advantage, and the Phillies began to season him as a left-handed specialist.

The addition of veteran MLB pitchers like Dontrelle Willis and Brian Sanches seems to make Savery's chances of making the MLB team out of spring training a long shot, but if he can hone his effectiveness as a reliever, he would be a more valuable left-handed asset than say, Juan Perez, should the Phillies need a reliever at some point during the season.

Mike Stutes

The Phillies couldn't ask for much more out of Mike Stutes in 2011. As the front office watched relievers dropping like flies as victims of the growing injury bug, the time for decision making arrived. With most of the top relievers still a year away from the MLB, Stutes got the call, and he filled a huge role.

With Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Jose Contreras all hitting the disabled list at some point during the season, the Phillies asked the rookie Stutes to pitch in the later innings, and he took the job by the reins.

Though he struggled a bit at home (4.91 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 1.36 WHIP) and during the month of August, Stutes pitched well for the Phils and gained valuable experience in an MLB bullpen. Now, with Jonathan Papelbon, Antonio Bastardo and Contreras all expected to be at the back of the bullpen, there should be less pressure on Stutes to excel in 2012.

Chase Utley

Though it will probably be downplayed for most of the months leading up to spring training, the Phillies are desperately relying on Chase Utley to be healthy and hit for power in 2012. It is no secret. When Utley is healthy, the Phillies are a more dynamic offense.

When the Phillies first made the decision to bring Placido Polanco aboard to play third base, the offense was not impacted because of Utley's ability to hit for power from a position normally reserved for more contact oriented players: second base.

Now, with Polanco's struggles and Ryan Howard sitting on the disabled list, Utley will have to shoulder most of the offense's responsibilities. In the short and long term, that is probably as simple as keeping those knees healthy.

The Phillies need Utley to come out of the gate like the man that Harry Kalas once called "the man."

If not, they will have to find some kind of offensive upgrade in a market that does not support that kind of demand.

Vance Worley

When the season opened and the Phillies boasted their four aces, Vance Worley wasn't even part of the picture. With Joe Blanton penciled in as the fifth starter, Worley found himself competing with Kyle Kendrick for a bullpen spot in a battle that was already decided.

However, when the injury bug rolled around and Blanton and Roy Oswalt hit the disabled list, Worley got his shot at the rotation, and to be quite honest, was less than impressive. He struggled with command and stamina, and it wasn't long before he was sent back to Lehigh Valley.

As the Phils continued to battle injury, Worley was back. This time, he was better than ever. Developing a strong relationship with catcher Brian Schneider, Worley honed his two-seam fastball that has baffled hitters, gaining a reputation for catching guys looking. His conditioning was much improved, and so was his control, with his K/BB ratio rising by the month, peaking at 4.60 in August.

Though most of his advanced numbers suggest that he will regress in 2012, is it reasonable to believe that Worley is just getting better? With improved control and conditioning and, what is in my opinion, one of the better pitches in baseball, can we expect much of the same out of Worley moving forward?