Tyler Goeddel Needs Playing Time



In last night's game with the Braves, Phillies outfielde, Tyler Goeddel went 1 for 4 with a single. While his sixth hit of the season was encouraging, his other three at-bats, despite being outs, were equally encouraging. That is because he put the ball in play all three times. 

Goeddel came into the game last night having only played in 17 other games, and striking out 11 times. Early in the season, Goeddel was only being used in games against left-handers, which severely limited his playing time.  More recently, Pete Mackannin has given Goeddel more playing time, including the last game against the Marlins, where Goeddel had a double and 2 RBIs.

Goeddel is hitting .167, and for a team that is having its offensive struggles with outfielders, it may seem strange to say he needs more playing time. But the Phillies picked up Goeddel in this winter's Rule 5 draft, and he is still a player in development. 

In the Rule 5 draft, any team can pick any player from another team's organization who is not protected on that team's 40 man roster. The player selected must remain on the selecting team's 25 man major league roster for the full season or be offered back to his original team with cash compensation. Last year, the Phillies struck gold in the Rule 5 draft, selecting Odubel Herrera, who is currently leading the team with a .319 average.  With the first overall pick in this winter's draft, the Phillies selected Tyler Goeddel from the Tampa Bay Rays' organization. 

Goeddel had shown promise in the minors, but he had never played above the AA level. Selecting Goeddel, who has a reputation for being a good defensive player, was going to be a risk. 

His record has shown a tendency to start slowly. But last year in AA, he finished strong. Of his 12 home runs in 2015, 8 were hit in the last 2 months of the season. 

While his minor league record clearly shows a better performance against left-handers, where he hit .385 against lefties, using Goeddel solely in that role in the majors has proven to be a mistake. Goeddel needs to develop his swing against real pitchers in game situations. If Goeddel had been any other player, that would mean regular playing time in either Reading or Lehigh Valley. But as a Rule 5 player, the Phillies don't have the luxury of sending him to the minors unless they work out a trade with Tampa Bay.  Because it looks like Goeddel's future role in the majors may be as a situational hitter, it is not clear that it is worth the Phillies' effort to work out such a trade. 

What Tyler needs are the plate appearances to get used to major league pitchers. His more recent performances appear to be giving him that opportunity as his strike-outs have been decreasing. 

Even with the pressure to build up the offense, the Phillies have the chance to continue to develop Goeddel. Despite the 19-14 record, it is still not realistic to expect this team to be play-off competitive. This season is about giving young players time to perform and develop. Patience, both for the team and the fans, is key.  

In the 1970s, an equally young Phillies team, coming off a disastrous season showed patience with such a young player.  Mike Schmidt's first full-time season, 1973, was dismal as Schmitty hit below the Mendoza line. But the Phillies were patient then and Schmidt developed into a Hall of Fame third baseman. 

Pne big difference is that Schmidt spent a season at AAA in 1972, where he hit an impressive .296 with 26 home runs.  Goeddel came straight from AA to the majors.  While Goeddel may not be the same caliber player as Schmidt, patience may allow him to develop into an effective major leaguer. 

To properly develop Goeddel, the Phillies will need to resist the urge to fill the outfield spot with a more seasoned hitter and give Tyler the playing time he needs to see major league pitching.  Enduring a suboptimal performance in the short-term could net the team long-term benefits. 

By: William J. Kovatch, Jr. 

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