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#2 on the list of top Brewers prospects is centerfielder Joe McPhillips. McPhillips entered the 1969 season ranked as #11 on the WPK Top 100 Prospects list.
A little history: McPhillips was chosen by the Brewers in the first round of the 1967 draft out of Norwood High School in Norwood, Massachusetts. He was the 5th player taken overall that year. Although the youngster looked a bit over-matched in the Rookie League later that season he got the ship righted when he dominated the Arizona Fall League that year. Since then McPhillips has been an impressive player and is making steady progress towards the major leagues.
About his skills: McPhillips possesses well-rounded talents and fits well in the Brewer mold. Which is to say, he is a superior defensive player with great speed and athleticism who also projects as being at least an above average hitter with some power and great plate discipline. While he has the range to play his natural position- centerfield- he also has a plus arm which gives him the potential to be an exceptional rightfielder. The organization will likely also try to get him some experience at firstbase as well, where he projects as having above average ability, in case things don't work out with Bobby Erbakan (and with firstbase being a relative weakness in terms of prospects) and with the Denver outfield being so talent-rich at this time.
What does the future hold?: Again, the biggest challenge for McPhillips has probably nothing to do with his own ability but is about the talent ahead of him at the major league level. Although the Brewers current centerfielder, Ryan Rodgers, is now in his early 30's he is also locked up in a long-term contract that could keep him on the club until his career is nearly over. And Rodgers is a superstar level player who is showing no obvious signs of diminished ability at this stage of his career. In addition, the Brewers have three other young outfielders in Antonio Puente (signed through the 1974 season), Ruben Souffront (coming into his own but potentially a free agent after the 1971 season, though the thought is the team hopes to sign him to a longer-term contract before that), and Pat Rondeau (still under team control through 1972 season), who block McPhillips path. Given his age, it is expected that McPhillips won't be ready for the bigs until 1972 or later so much can change in that time.
While some have advised that he might make for very valuable trade bait, McPhillips, with his great work ethic and all-around talent is an organizational favorite and the thought is that he is pretty much untouchable for the time being.
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