Drew Carpenter

Carpenter has a solid but unspectacular skill set. His advanced metrics suggest that he has the potential to be a successful major league pitcher until you realize he works primarily in the upper-80s with his fastball. Without some major deception that velocity just isn't going to be enough to get major league hitters out with regularity. Carpenter might benefit from a move to the pen where he can max out his effort to get a few more mph on his fastball. If he can do that and maintain his solid K:BB ratio then the Phillies may have a solid middle-inning reliever on their hands.

Carpenter, 23, is a top-five prospect for Philadelphia that has been impressive ever since he joined the organization in 2006 and could be ready to make an impact in majors for the first time in 2009. Carpenter flashed his great stuff at High-A Clearwater at the beginning of the 2008 season, going 3-3 in eight starts with a 2.92 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 52.1 innings. He was decent in his 16 starts after being promoted to Double-A Reading, going 6-8 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 93.2 innings and was called up to the Phillies’ roster in late-August, pitching one scoreless inning in the big leagues. He’s expected to compete with Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco and J.A. Happ in spring training for the No. 5 spot in Philadelphia’s rotation, but is not one of the frontrunners to win the role. Most likely, he’ll start the year pitching in Double- or Triple-A and would be a top candidate to get called up should a Phillies starter get off to a bad start or get hurt.

The 22-year-old right-hander was 17-6 with a 3.20 ERA, completing three games with 116 K in 163 IP for High-A Clearwater. Carpenter has outstanding stuff and has a great feel for pitching. He spent the entire season with the Threshers, and long term he projects as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter at the major-league level. GM Pat Gillick includes Carpenter in a short list of in-house arms who will be ready to push for a rotation spot in 2009.