Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Brett Phillips Born: 05/30/1994 (Age: 21)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 0"	Weight: 195
	Primary Position: CF

Skinny, but with a high waist that suggests that more good weight can be put on. Phillips is built like your prototypical athletic centerfielder.

Evaluator	Christopher Crawford
Report Date	06/13/2015
Dates Seen	6/12/2015
Affiliate	Lancaster JetHawks (High A, Astros)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2017		55	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	55	Above-average bat speed from the left side. There's very little wasted movement, and the hands work into hitting position early with a slight drop/hitch, and though there is some backwards movement his quick wrists make up for it. The swing has excellent plane, and he showed a willingness both in BP and in game to hit the ball to the opposite field. There's some swing and miss here, mostly do to the length of the swing, but it's improved from where it was in high school and the strikeout totals shouldn't prevent an above-average hit tool when all is said and done.
Power	45	Natural loft to the swing along with extremely strong wrists allow for some explosion. Power grades down a bit because he doesn't incorporate enough of his lower half with a small stride and the swing is mostly upper-body. Swing stays in sync though and as he gets strong there's no reason he can't be a 12 to 15 homer guy at the big league level. Overall power numbers are definitely inflated by the friendly confines of the league, though.
Baserunning/Speed	60	A plus runner, borderline 65. Easy gliding actions and a body type that suggests that he won't lose that speed as he matures into the body. Ran a 4.06 to first on hard contact to right-center.
Glove	55	Didn't see much action, but looked like a centerfielder. First step was back on balls hit his way, and took solid routes.
Arm	70	A cannon. Phillips has excellent mechanics and a very quick arm, and there's loads of carry on his throws. Sets his feet well, and got himself into throwing position like an elite centerfielder does.

This was the first time I'd seen Phillips in person since he was a senior at Seminole High School in Miami, and the improvement was impressive. There's a nonzero chance that he ends up with five average to above-average tools, and he's a lock to stay in centerfield assuming something weird doesn't happen developmentally. The ceiling is leadoff hitter who wins games with his glove, with fourth outfielder/late baserunning threat off the bench as a floor.