PHILADELPHIA – Even without much movement at the major league level yet, the Phils decided to kindle some heat for the holidays and bolster their farm system with the addition of Cuban shortstop prospect Denilson Aguila.
A Major Youth Movement in Philadelphia
The Phillies have been preparing for a lasting journey to the World Series each year since the arrival of their most recent batch of star players. Aguila brings the youth this team embodies with tremendous upside and potential for his talent to be showcased in MLB within the next couple of seasons if not sooner.
He represents a smooth swing on both sides of the box with strong defensive mechanics that make you question how he flew under the radar until now. Going off of that, his three walks in four plate appearances with Boca Raton only further emphasizes his discipline which can be uncommon for young prospects early on. Just take a look at how comfortable he is in his stance and his ability to swing confidently through the zone:
Philly’s farm system is currently ranked 23rd in the league according to MLB.com so bringing in a guy of this caliber will only serve to increase their standing. It’s not always the best move to roll the dice where you don’t need to but a prospect with a high upside and a chance to make the pros soon is a shot worth taking.
How This Helps the Phillies Moving Forward
In recent years, this organization has been a shining star in the NL, with a trip to the World Series followed by a return to the NLCS the season after.
Phillies GM Sam Fuld’s uncanny ability to take risks has only continued to push this team to new heights and consistently keep them in the NL’s top 5 teams. With other players on the team coming up on the end of their contract within the next 1-2 seasons, Aguila could find himself on the major league roster before he knows it.
Aguila reminds me of Christian Pache in a way due to his discreet playing status that speaks volumes once you allow him to compete. Pache has a different story here compared to Aguila, obviously, but you get what I’m saying. Make sure to keep an eye on this guy as he makes his way through the pipeline and hopefully lands himself in The Show.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
