Goeddel, image- MiLB.com
Selected by the Phillies in December’s MLB Rule 5 draft, outfielder Tyler Goeddel will get every chance to catch on with the big league club as they open a new season in 2016.
Goeddel was taken 41st overall out of high school in the 2011 draft by Tampa Bay. Touted as a five-tool player at the time, he has worked hard to prove those reviews as accurate.
Upon making his professional debut in 2012 as a 19-year-old for Class A Bowling Green, Goeddel posted a .246 batting average with six homers, 46 RBI and 30 stolen bases. Repeating that level the following season, he tallied a .249 average with seven home runs, 65 RBI and 30 steals in 112 games.
The following year, Goeddel posted a .269 average with six homers, 61 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 113 games for Class A Advanced Charlotte in the Florida State League.
In 2015 Goeddel posted a strong offensive campaign, sporting a .279 average with 12 home runs, 72 RBI and 28 steals in 123 games with Double-A Montgomery in the Southern League.
Speed is certainly a factor of the youngster’s game, as he has swiped bags at a terrific 79.4% success rate thus far in his pro career.
Defensively, Goeddel played third base until he was converted exclusively to an outfielder following the 2014 season. With quick feet, he displays very good range, mainly as a left fielder. He also sports a strong arm to keep runners honest.
With a solid frame, the six-foot-four 186-pounder already features plenty of pop, slamming 25 hits for extra-bases in 63 second half games last year for the Biscuits. His power potential, which is something the Phils are high on, can certainly continue to develop. Looking thin, he’ll need to pack on some muscle if he is to fully blossom.
A righty batter, Goeddel hit considerably better against lefty hurlers (1.112 OPS) than he did against righties (.699 OPS) last season, but that variance doesn’t hold firm historically. In his previous two seasons, Goeddel’s OPS was higher against right-handed opposition.
As per rules of the Rule 5 draft, requirements state that the selecting team keeps any drafted player on its 25-man big league roster for the entire following season, or offer him back to the team he was drafted from. The Phillies, having taken Goeddel with the first overall pick in that draft, will give the player every chance to stick in Philly. His proximity to the majors helps the 23-year-old place in the upper half of this list.
The Rays decided they did not have room to protect him on their 40-man roster, implying he was the 41st man and just missed the cut.
Goeddel’s brother Erik is a reliever with the Mets and their father, David, was a biotech industry pioneer who developed synthetic insulin.
With a nearly locked-in opportunity to play in the majors in 2016, the California native will need to prove that he is ready for the challenge in order to stick there long-term. If Goeddel can continue to at least hit against lefty pitching, the worst case scenario, hopefully, is he sees some platoon time with the likes of the lefty batting Code Asche in left field at Citizens Bank Park next season. With progress down the line, the Phillies hope they have a 20-20 guy on their hands.
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