Tommy Joseph: Filling Howard’s Shoes
Back in 2012, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Tommy Joseph via trade.
At the time, the Phillies were in the beginning stages of the rebuilding process, and Joseph had become a top prospect in San Francisco’s system before he was traded to Philadelphia in the deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants.
Since then, Joseph and the Phillies organization have been faced with many challenges.
Now, the signs of progress are beginning to show.
Last May, a few months before turning 25, Joseph made his highly anticipated major league debut.
Joseph impressed many coaches and fans, as he went on to have a solid rookie season.
At the end of the season, Joseph finished with 21 home runs in 315 at bats, and with Ryan Howard no longer on the team’s roster, Joseph has a chance to be a part of Philadelphia’s future at first base.
“I don’t think it was so much the power numbers, it was getting to the major leagues and having a healthy season. That was really the most gratifying thing,” Joseph said on Friday, prior to the team’s’ first spring training full-squad workout. “As a ballplayer, your job is to come in here and give your manager the opportunity for you to play every day.”
Unfortunately, staying healthy has been an issue for Joseph.
Prior to coming to Philadelphia, he was a catcher and had shown solid power at the Class A level, but his career nearly came to an end due to concussions.
Between 2013 and 2015, Joseph only played 121 games in the minors.
Finally, he earned himself a promotion, after an impressive start at Triple-A.
After about a month with the Phillies, he replaced the struggling Ryan Howard at first base.
Following the All-Star break, Howard began to hit much better.
In addition, by the end of the season, he’d managed to reach 25 home runs on the season, thus giving the Phillies two options with power at first base.
In the end, Philadelphia let Howard go, and he still remains a free agent.
Today, the Phillies are led by players such as Maikel Franco, Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez, and if Joseph proves that he is capable of handling more playing time, he’ll have no trouble fitting in with that group.
“Tommy’s got some issues he’s got to take care of,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “It’s like any other hitter — the better you learn the strike zone, the more at-bats you don’t give away.”
Last season, Joseph had 75 strikeouts and 22 walks, finishing with a .308 on-base percentage.
Even when he was hitting well at Triple-A, he drew a mere four walks in 27 games, so it should come as no surprise that his selectivity at the plate remains an issue.
“Young players, when they come to the big leagues, it takes a little while to figure out what type of hitter you are and where your strengths are. He knows he’s a very good low ball hitter,” Phillies hitting coach, Matt Stairs said. “So, just a matter of reminding him, over and over and over, ‘Hey, listen, you’re a low ball hitter, take your walks. You snuck up on some teams last year with the power you had.'”
Another potential issue is Joseph’s platoon split.
Last season, at the major league level, his OPS was better against left-handed pitchers (.912) than against right-handed pitcher (.774), and Howard is no longer around to take up at-bats against right-handers.
Joseph remains optimistic; hopeful that with more experience, he will be able to continue improving.
“I’ve been hitting against right-handed pitching my entire minor league career. The only way you progress in the major leagues is having the opportunity to face those guys,” he said. “Getting an opportunity would be great, and allow me to continue to progress.”
Though Joseph has a few issues, it’s reassuring to see a young player with such composure and determination to improve and ultimately succeed.
Photo: Naighthawk19 (via: Wikimedia Commons)
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Categorized:Phillies