May 16, 2015
For the second consecutive night at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Reading Fightin Phils sent the fans home nice and early by blanking the Erie Seawolves by a score of 2-0 behind a strong performance by their starting pitcher. Except unlike Ben Lively’s excellent outing last night, this one was much less of a surprise.
Aaron Nola, whom the Phillies selected seventh overall in last June’s draft out of LSU, should become a household name in Philadelphia in due time. He’s the only pitcher among the organization’s “Big Three” prospects (well, Big Two now that Maikel Franco is manning third base at The Bank) and just so happens to be making mincemeat of the Eastern League. The numbers over his past six starts properly do some justice to how comfortable Nola is right now: 41 innings pitched, 1.09 ERA, 28 hits, four walks, and 30 strikeouts.
Billed as one of the most advanced and polished arms after three years of college ball, Nola has come as advertised. He’s already far too comfortable in Double-A. The natural next question on everyone’s mind is two-fold: 1. When are the Phillies going to promote their top pitching prospect? 2. If they don’t, what is left for him to accomplish at this level?
First, here’s Nola’s response, and the cliché police (no really, they’re a thing) will be paying a visit to Reading tonight: “They haven’t told me anything. I just focus on every outing that I go out over here and trying to get the guys a win.”
Followed by Reading skipper Dusty Wathan’s: “He did a good job of going to his changeup, I thought when he fell behind in the count. There’s always things to improve on, there’s always things to do whether it’s this level, the next level or the major leagues.”
Nola’s utilization of his changeup on Friday night showed how far ahead of Double-A hitters he already is. You see, the pinpoint control of his low-90s fastball was just a smidge off and he was ever so slightly missing the corners he was trying to paint. That was no problem for Nola, who decided to lean on what isn’t considered one of his best two pitches in big spots. He’s like a poker or pool hustler in that there are so many different ways in which he can win.
On a night where Nola didn’t necessarily have his best stuff, his changeup induced a bunch of weak ground balls and also generated a few swings and misses. The final result was six scoreless innings (he could’ve easily gone seven) of four-hit ball, an excellent day at the office for someone who wasn’t completely on his game.
"He was off just a little bit, but like I said, I think a lot of guys would dream being off just that much,” Wathan said.
“He said he was just missing a little bit, but those are pretty good ‘just misses,’” Wathan said. “I asked, ‘How do you think the strike zone was?’ He said, ‘Oh it was fine,’ He was off just a little bit, but like I said, I think a lot of guys would dream being off just that much.”
Nola is an interesting case. On one hand, he’s dominant at this level and came fresh off a tremendous college career in the SEC. On the other, his fastball doesn’t get much above 93 MPH and his secondary pitches don’t have the wow factor that makes scouts drool. For both of those reasons, the scouting report on Nola is that of a high-floor, limited-ceiling prospect. In simpler terms, most scouts have pegged him as a No. 3/No. 4 starter in a good rotation with more conviction than normal.
(“Most” is a key word there. The scouting community rarely holds a universal opinion on a prospect, even if they’re often generally in the same ballpark.)
Wathan only got six plate appearances in the majors, but he brings an interesting perspective to the table because of a 13-year career in the minors. Fun fact: He caught Cole Hamels in his last start in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before getting called up to the Phillies. (May 7th, 2006, in case you were wondering). When asked whether he thought his star pupil could pitch at the top of the rotation at the highest level, Wathan reminded the reporters in the room that he’s in the business of player development, not scouting. He did give us a little somethin somethin, though.
“If you can throw the ball where you want, you’re only going to get better with your command as you get older,” Wathan said. “And you’re only probably going to get better with moving the ball around and being able to manipulate the ball, sink it and cut it and things like that, as you get older.”
Wathan is speaking exactly like the player development guy he described himself as. P.D. guys are allowed to be hopeful because they’re dealing with players who are already a part of the organization. Scouts aren’t afforded that luxury and they have to be cynical by nature when helping select those players who are then handed over to the development staff. While Wathan (who seems as level-headed as they come) can focus on the positives like Nola’s fastball command, scouts are always going to mention how fast it is (or more specifically, isn’t) traveling.
Regardless of how quickly the Phillies bring him along — Service time considerations could potentially delay his arrival in Philly — Nola feels that his time pitching in college has prepared him well for the big leagues. He mentioned that he’s currently facing a decent amount guys he pitched against at LSU. Nola went a combined 23-2 over his last two years in school, so it makes sense that his success has continued.
Friday night, he received some help from his defense when left fielder Cameron Perkins made a great catch to rob what was headed for a two-run double off the top of the wall.
“He saved me, he saved my butt big time,” Nola said after the game.
Even dominant players need help from time to time.
Up Next: Local product and former Phillies first-round pick Jesse Biddle gets the ball and will have the opportunity to make it three wins in a row for Reading. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
