Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: 81-90

88. Evan Phillips, RHP

Phillips was a North Carolina high school product that chose to attend college a North Carolina-Wilmington rather than signing as a 33rd round selection with the Royals in 2012. The Braves plucked him out of UNCW in the 17th round of the June draft in 2015. Phillips was initially sent to Danville, and he threw so well there that he worked his way to Rome, finishing his 2015 season with 18 appearances, 29 2/3 innings, a 2.73 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 12/37 BB/K ratio.

This season Phillips started with Carolina, and he worked in concert with Chase Johnson-Mullins as co-closers for the Mudcats at the beginning of the season before CJM was suspended for behavioral reasons and Phillips was promoted to Mississippi’s bullpen. After really working on getting hitters to pound the ball into the ground, Phillips made an adjustment in his approach to hitters with highly-reputable Mississippi pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn, and it led to a significant jump in his strikeouts, though he did find his stuff a bit more hittable initially.

On the 2016 season, Phillips totaled 43 appearances, 62 2/3 innings, a 3.02 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 24/62 BB/K ratio. I did note that he was used much more in multi-inning appearances with Mississippi, and his stuff was much less sharp after about 25-30 pitches into an appearance, when he seemed to get off in his landing spot, leading to a notably higher walk rate at AA (10.6% BB rate in AA versus 7.2% with high-A Carolina). Landing spot issues for Phillips will be something to note due to his near-slide-step move to the plate and that putting his foot down a slight moment early can really throw off the rest of his delivery.

Phillips has a three-pitch mix featuring a fastball that can touch 96-97 and sits in the 93ish range with excellent downward plane from a high 3/4 arm slot. He also utilizes a hard slider and a hard curve. The hard slider is absolutely a ground ball generating pitch, and when he focuses more fastball/slider, he will get hitters pounding the ball into the ground. However, his curve showed growth at Mississippi, and I noted in my scouting report last offseason that when his hard curve was biting well, it’s a strikeout pitch.

I’d wager Phillips works at Mississippi to start 2017 again, and it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if he was moved more toward the back of the Mississippi bullpen in 2017, where I think he could be quite successful with his three-pitch mix if he can keep his landing spot stable and is given the opportunity.

87. J.B. Moss, OF

Moss was a senior-sign pick out of Texas A&M in the 7th round this past June. Moss is a guy whose profile is not likely to blow anyone away as he’s got limited power, but solid contact skills and very good speed. However, Moss came out and really hit well in Danville (.333/.380/.441) before being jumped over Rome to Carolina, and he struggled with BABIP stuff at Carolina (.246 BABIP for a guy with excellent speed that will probably be more like a .300-.310 guy going forwrad).

What Moss showed that was impressive to many in the organization and was more than expected was his pitch recognition at the plate. He did strike out at over 19% combined, but that’s certainly not a concerning number, but that he was able to put up a 9% walk rate in Carolina was notable to multiple team people that I had a chance to talk with.

Moss profiles as a left fielder, primarily due to an average-ish arm, but he certainly has the range to handle center, and he’s had experience playing there in college, so he could handle the position well as needed. I honestly thought that Moss could be another version of Keith Curcio in the system, and while a guy like that may have a future at best of a fourth outfielder, a guy like that will also be kept around for a long time for the way he plays the game as long as he continues to keep working hard.

Next: #86 & #85