A Phillies Pheenom?


The rebuilding Phillies have some of baseball's best young prospects. Shortstop JP Crawford, outfielder Mickey Moniak, slugger Dylan Cozens and catcher Jorge Alfaro are expected to be core players as the club looks to regain contender status in the next few years.
Brock Stassi isn't normally grouped in with them. After a breakout 2015 season at AA Reading, his progress stalled while playing at Lehigh Valley last summer. Now 27 and not yet on the 40-man roster, he's one of those extra players -- with high numbers on their uniform -- you often see in early spring training games.
But, as of Tuesday afternoon, guess who's tied for the Grapefruit League lead in home runs, along with Washington standout Bryce Harper? Brock Stassi. Five homers, including ones in Monday and Tuesday's games, have begun to raise his profile. And his 15 RBI are the most of anyone now playing in Florida. Might he be working his way into GM Matt Klentak's plans? OK, don't jump the gun. Let's just say his performance during the first half of baseball's pre-season hasn't hurt.
This photo of Stassi is from the March 8th Phillies/Braves game in Orlando.

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