Phillies 2017: Five Key Developing Players

Philadelphia Phillies starter Nola (27) pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park in the 2016 season. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to build back towards competitiveness, the development of a handful of their best youngsters is key to 2017 success.

The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the last two to three years rebuilding the farm system, and introducing youngsters into both the lineup and pitching staff.

This upcoming season should prove to be one of major transition for the club. Five of the eight players in the everyday lineup may not be around, at least not as starters, the next time the team is a contender.

The 2017 starting pitching rotation will feature at least two arms who similarly are not expected to be around when the Phillies again challenge for an NL East crown.

There are a number of young, developing players and near-ready prospects who have a chance to impact the club for years to come.

Five players in particular seem to be keys to any chance that the club might have to legitimately challenge for a .500 season as soon as this year.

One of those players is out on the mound, a former number one draft pick. Two of the players roam the outfield, trying to break through from highly-regarded prospect status. And two young left-side infielders have as much developing talent as anyone in the organization.

Jul 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nola (27) throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

STARTING ROTATION KEY

The 2016 season was one of major disappointment, and near disaster, for right-handed starting pitcher Aaron Nola.

Things actually started out fine. Building off a strong 2015 rookie campaign, Nola went 5-4 over his first dozen starts a year ago. At that point he had allowed just 62 hits over 78 innings with an 85/15 K:BB ratio.

Then things began to go terribly wrong. Nola made five starts in the month of June. In the final four, he was unable to reach the 4th inning, and he was getting battered. Over those four outings, Nola allowed 22 earned runs on 32 hits in just 13 innings, registering just a 14/7 K:BB ratio.

Though his performance improved in four July starts, the results were still not up to his or the team's expectations. And perhaps of greater concern, Nola's elbow was barking.

Following a July 28 start in Atlanta, Nola was shut down for what would turn out to be the rest of the season. Many feared the worst – Tommy John surgery. The doctors instead recommended rest.

It turned out the Nola did indeed suffer an elbow strain. The period of rest followed by a controlled fall throwing program seems to have him back to 100%, at least so far.

HEALTH THE KEY FOR NOLA IN 2017

The club's first round pick at 7th overall in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft is now scheduled for his first spring training outing on Thursday in the fifth starter's position of the rotation.

Pitching coach Bob McClure was quoted on the rotation positioning in a piece by Ryan Lawrence of The Philly Voice:

"Right now, in the spring, I'm pitching Nola later because of the fact that he had some arm discomfort at the end (of last season) and I'm giving him as much time as he can. I can get him ready to go in any slot (of the rotation). Right now, I want the extra time in the spring to get into games and go from there."

Nola has the talent and makeup to become a #2 type starting pitcher in the big leagues. Prior to his elbow troubles, he was arguably already the Phillies best starting pitcher.

It's hard to say what the short-term future holds. If he has more elbow troubles, and eventually does need the TJ surgery, he loses a year. Turning just 24 years of age in early June, that wouldn't be the end of the world. But it would certainly push back his own and the team's development.

The hope is that Nola is past whatever his troubles may have been. If he is, and he is able to produce a full season to mirror or surpass the 33 starts that he has already made in his career, it will be huge for the success of the 2017 Phillies.

Next: PAIR OF YOUNG KEYS IN PHILLIES OUTFIELD

Mar 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies Quinn (71) slides safely into home plate as New York Yankees catcher Carlos Corporan (17) drops the ball while trying to tag him during the sixth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

OUTFIELD KEYS

The anticipation is that the Phillies 2017 starting outfield is set entering spring training. Center fielder Odubel Herrera is expected to be flanked by a pair of newcomers to the team.

The left fielder should be Howie Kendrick, obtained in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right fielder should be Michael Saunders, signed as a free agent just over a month ago.

But both of those players are now north of 30 years of age. Neither is going to be around as the club hopefully gets back to playoff contention within the next couple of seasons.

The future in the outfield, at least at this point, should belong to a pair of 23-year olds, Roman Quinn and Nick Williams.

Quinn was the Phillies second round pick in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft. He made his big league debut with 57 at-bats last September. His game is speed, and it is of the game-changing variety.

Williams was part of the big talent haul that the club received from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Cole Hamels back in the summer of 2015. He is considered an all-around threat, but is coming off a disappointing 2016 minor league campaign.

OTHER OUTFIELD OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Even if there is an injury to either Kendrick or Saunders, the Phillies might decide to give the playing time to another veteran in the early part of the season.

Aaron Altherr is still around, and should see plenty of time as the fourth outfielders. He may actually even split time in a right-field platoon with Saunders.

Veterans Chris Coghlan and Daniel Nava are in camp as non-roster invitees, each hoping to come north with the team.

The Phillies also have other outfield prospects trying to stick. This group includes Tyler Goeddel, Cameron Perkins, Andrew Pullin, and Dylan Cozens.

The biggest problem for Quinn has been staying healthy. To that end, he worked with the Phillies strength and conditioning staff in Florida this winter.

Manager Pete Mackanin was quoted on Quinn's potential by Philly.com's Mike Sielski:

"I think he's got a chance to be a real game-changer. He still has kind of a big swing for a little guy. Once he knows what type of hitter he should be, he's going to be outstanding."

WILLIAMS MUST DEMONSTRATE MATURITY

The Phils were not happy with Williams attitude last summer. It caused him to get benched twice, and ultimately cost him a September promotion that seemed a forgone conclusion when the season opened.

Williams was quoted on his 2016 struggles by Philly.com's Matt Gelb:

"Last year was a huge learning experience for me. This offseason, I decided I would build on that. I thought about all the wrong things I did and all of the right things I did. Getting sent home sucked, but at the same time, it was good for me…Tough love, I like that. I'd rather that than somebody not say anything at all."

The likelihood is that, unless they force the issue with incredible play this spring, both Quinn and Williams will open at AAA Lehigh Valley.

But if the 2017 season were to end without both of those players forcing their way into regular playing time, it has to be considered a setback for either or both of them, as well as for the organization.

Quinn and Williams are more talented and dynamic than Kendrick and Saunders. Now it's time for them to prove they belong by staying healthy, producing on the field, and showing maturity in the clubhouse and away from the field.

Next: PAIR OF YOUNG KEYS ON LEFT SIDE OF PHILLIES INFIELD

Mar 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Crawford (77) against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

INFIELD KEYS

Barring some type of disastrous injury, the left side of the Phillies infield is set to open the season just as it ended last year. Maikel Franco will be at third base, and Freddy Galvis will man the shortstop position.

Franco is one of the key young players featured here. Among those currently on the roster and expected to have a regular role in 2017, his is potentially the most powerful bat in the lineup.

To this point in his career, the 24-year old Franco has only flashed that potential. His .255/.306/.427 slash line has to be considered a major disappointment. The 2.5 WAR mark that he has accumulated over his first 248 big league games is only scratching the surface.

Franco needs to step up his game. He has the talent to become a National League all-star as soon as this season. But if he instead settles in as simply a decent player, rather than an impact player, it will be a waste of his top-end ability.

GALVIS HOLDING A PLACE FOR CRAWFORD

Galvis is a defensive whiz, and the Phillies lose nothing competitively with his glove out in the field.

The 27-year old produced a power spike a year ago with 20 homers. He also stole 17 bases, seemingly making him an offensive threat as well.

However, looking a bit closer, Galvis produced just a .241/.274/.399 slash line. He was the very definition of all-or-nothing in the 2016 season. In 1,777 big league plate appearances those are roughly his career norms.

As spring training opens, Galvis is battling through a groin strain that leaves his playing status at day-to-day for the time being. The injury caused him to give up an opportunity to play for his native Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Galvis was quoted by Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal regarding the missed opportunity:

"I think it's a good situation if I would play over there, but I think if I stay here too I think I'll have a chance to get more work and do what I need to do. I think here in spring training it's not about numbers. It's about getting ready for the season."

Galvis is likely a placeholder who knows that there are footsteps coming up fast behind him. The Phillies top prospect for the last three years, shortstop J.P. Crawford, is participating in his second spring training with the big club.

CRAWFORD READY FOR FINISHING WORK

Last summer did not go as well as Crawford or the Phillies would have hoped. The youngster disappointed to the tune of a .250/.349/.339 slash line. He produced just 27 extra-base hits in his 551 plate appearances.

Crawford appears poised to do the typical prospect finishing work with AAA Lehigh Valley in the opening months of the season. It will be disappointing if he isn't performing at a level that forces the Phils to consider his first big league promotion by June at the latest.

Lawrence did a rapid-fire style Q&A with Crawford, and in the accompanying piece also interviewed Phillies skipper Pete Mackanin on the 22-year old who it is hoped will become a cornerstone:

"I really haven't seen enough of him so far this spring, but I know one thing: he's got a lot of potential, a lot of ability. He's probably going to go to Triple-A and get his bat going and get his game going, and then we'll see where we go from there. I certainly believe he's going to play in the big leagues at some point."

Nola in the rotation. Quinn and Williams in the outfield. Franco and Crawford on the left side of the infield. The Phillies are hoping that each one of these players reaches their full potential, developing into integral parts of the long-term future.

If somehow each begins tapping into that potential together by no later than the second half of the coming season, 2017 could turn out to be a surprising year in the standings for the Fightin' Phils.

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