The Phillies expected big things quickly from outfielder Adam Haseley when the drafted the University of Virginia product with the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft. I don’t think anyone in the front office envisioned things would go this well, this quickly, though. After just 37 games in Short Season A Williamsport, the Phillies have promoted Haseley to Lakewood for the remainder of the season.
In those 37 games with the Crosscutters, Haseley was hitting .270 but getting on base more frequently, with an on base percentage of .350. He drove in 14 runs for the Cutters while picking up 11 extra base hits, including two homeruns. Haseley is avoiding the punch out, as well, as he only struckout 28 in 137 at bats in Williamsport. The Phillies decided it was time for the 21-year-old to face stiffer competition despite not recording a hit in his last ten at bats, spanning four games.
Haseley will now join Phillies’ 2015 number one overall pick, Mickey Moniak, in the New Jersey outfield. While the pair are still a long ways off from the Major Leagues, it’s a promising sign to see Haseley promoted twice within his first three months with the organization. He’ll likely continue to progress at a faster rate than Moniak, who is still just 19-years-old, so don’t panic if we see Haseley make the jump to Clearwater more quickly than Moniak does. It’s simply a matter of the organization understanding that Haseley has had more at bats at UVA and the pros than Moniak has had in his career. To put it all into perspective, Haseley had 470 at bats in his final two seasons at UVA over the course of 118 games. Since turning pro, Moniak has had 579 at bats in 153 games. That means Haseley was getting 3.98 at bats per game compared to Moniak’s 3.78 per game. Obviously, in small numbers, 0.20 at bats per game seems inconsequential, but put those numbers over the span of a full season, and you’re looking at an additional 32 at bats a year. Multiple that by the fact that Haseley has played two more seasons of baseball than Moniak because of their age, and you have a player who has gotten more swings in. Do not be alarmed by Haseley’s speed of progression over Moniak’s.
The interesting caveat to this promotion is where Haseley and Moniak will each play. One will have to give way in center field for the other, as each have played substantial time manning the middle outfield spot. I’d expect the Blue Claws to start with Moniak in center and Haseley in either right or left field until they determine who is a better fit for the position.
Interesting times lie ahead for the Phillies’ outfield.
Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
