Dylan Cozens

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #31 prospect in 2018
  Cozens and Rhys Hoskins went back and forth blasting balls out of Double-A Eastern League parks in 2016, when Hoskins hit 38 homers and Cozens topped him with 40 to lead the minor leagues. Strikeouts have always been a problem for Cozens, though, and Triple-A pitchers were able to exploit those holes in 2017, as Cozens still showed gigantic power but also led the minors with 194 strikeouts. Cozens is one of the strongest players in the minors and generates plus-plus raw power. Cozens generates extreme lift in his swing, so when he squares up a pitch he's a threat to put it over the fence to any part of the park, and he does have solid plate patience. However, that uphill bat path combined with the length in his swing leaves him vulnerable to a lot of swing-and-miss (he had a 36 percent strikeout rate in 2017) or high pop-ups. He moves surprisingly well for his size, with average speed underway, and he's worked his way to become a solid defender on the corners. Cozens is similar to former Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero, and if he can't cut down on his strikeouts, he could go on to a big career in Japan.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #10 prospect in 2017
  Cozens starred in both baseball and football in high school, so he entered pro ball a bit raw after the Phillies made him a second-round pick in 2012. The 6-foot-6 right fielder took giant strides at Double-A Reading in 2016, his fifth pro season, by improving his batting eye and more frequently getting to his monstrous raw power. Cozens led the minors with 40 home runs and 125 RBIs, though he hit just 11 of those bombs away from the cozy confines at Reading. Cozens is a player of extremes. He is a huge, strong, long-armed hitter who generates at least 70 raw power grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, with outstanding leverage when he's in sync, on time and able to get his hands extended. Even when he doesn't square up the ball, it flies off his bat with power to all fields. Cozens' long, uphill swing path leaves him with holes pitchers can exploit. This is particularly true when he faces lefthanders. While contact is an issue, he does show solid plate patience to go with his power. He also moves surprisingly well for his size, with average speed that helped him steal 21 bases in 22 attempts. He has worked his way into a playable defender with an average arm who played all three outfield spots in 2016. Cozens has the power to mash in the middle of the lineup, but a long list of power-hitting prospects have been stymied by contact issues. Triple-A Lehigh Valley is next.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #16 prospect in 2016
  A physical monster who played defensive end in high school, Cozens signed for $659,800 as a Phillies second-round pick in 2012, passing on a commitment to Arizona. The two-sport background meant Cozens would be a bit raw coming into pro ball, but the Phillies were content to wait on someone with the power potential he possesses. Philadelphia asked him to cut down his stroke to hit for a higher average in 2015, and he did just that by hitting .282 at high Class A Clearwater to rank eighth in the Florida State League batting race. He had hit just .248 at low Class A Lakewood in 2014. Cozens lost a bit of power and a few walks in the trade. Cozens' critics still see him as a stiff, unathletic, corner player with minimal defensive value who will be too streaky to be a regular contributor. He does run surprisingly well for his size and can swipe a bag, even after missing a month with a foot injury. He has an average arm, though a forearm strain kept him out of the Arizona Fall League. He's headed back to Double-A for 2016.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #16 prospect in 2015
  The well-built Cozens also starred as a football defensive end in high school, but he turned pro in baseball as a 2012 second-round pick for $659,800. He possesses some of the best raw power in the organization, which manifested with 16 homers at low Class A Lakewood in 2014, but with that power came many strikeouts. Cozens fanned 147 times--or 26 percent of the time'so he needs to improve upon what is now an all-or-nothing approach that leaves him vulnerable to breaking pitches. He's a passable defender in right field with an accurate, above-average arm, but scouts worry that he may be better suited for first base or DH in the long term due to his lack of range. Despite his massive frame and lack of pure speed, Cozens' aptitude and instincts allowed him to steal 23 bases, the fourth-most in the organization, and just one fewer than top prospect J.P. Crawford. Cozens offers intriguing power potential, but without refinement to his approach, he won't hit for average, and his in-game power could decrease as he faces more experienced pitchers. He will head to high Class A Clearwater in 2015.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #22 prospect in 2014
  As befitting a one-time Pacific-12 Conference defensive-end recruit, Cozens stands out for his physicality and strength. That strength translated into what most evaluators believed was among the best raw power in the 2013 short-season New York-Penn League, not to mention the entire Phillies system. Cozens' power comes not just from his size but also a quick swing with natural leverage and lift. With that power-oriented approach and long-limbed, 6-foot-6 frame has come a lot of swing and miss. Evaluators who watched with at Williamsport noted that he was particularly vulnerable to offspeed pitches and had trouble recognizing the spin on breaking pitches, both of which could be attributable to his youth and relative inexperience after spending so much time as an amateur focusing on football. Cozens runs well for his size and ranked second on the Crosscutters with 11 stolen bases. He's an adequate-at-best defender with enough arm for right field, but he may lose too much speed as he matures and land at first base. Cozens' value lies in his bat anyway. He'll play an outfield corner with low Class A Lakewood in 2014.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #27 prospect in 2013
  Cozens' limited baseball experience and background scared off some teams prior to the 2012 draft, but the Phillies took him in the second round and signed him for $659,800 after he smashed 10 homers in a private workout at Citizen's Bank Park. The son of Randy Cozens, a defensive end drafted in 1976 by the NFL's Denver Broncos, Dylan committed to Arizona to play both football and baseball. He was kicked off Desert Mountain High's (Scottsdale, Ariz.) team and missed much of his junior year, with the circumstances around his dismissal causing questions about his makeup. He transferred to Chaparral High (Scottsdale) and broke Paul Konerko's school record with 19 homers in 2012, including a walkoff shot in the Arizona Division I state championship game. Philadelphia, which has a former CIA agent on staff, did its homework on Cozens. He has a lot to learn but he has a tremendous ceiling. Cozens generates extraordinary raw power to all fields, possibly the most in the system, by leveraging his massive frame. His swing is stiff, so it's unclear if his power will translate or if his bat will progress. He also needs to develop an approach at the plate. Cozens is a good athlete who moves well for his size. He has a strong arm and played right field in his pro debut, and he'll either play an outfield corner or move to first base. He likely will open 2013 in extended spring training.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Eastern League #13 prospect in 2016
  Cozens, the league MVP, led the minors with 40 home runs and 125 RBIs. He also amassed 186 punchouts, which ranked second in the minors only to Adam Brett Walker. Cozens has plenty of juice, and EL managers nearly unanimously awarded him best power in Best Tools balloting. The question is: How much of Cozens' power is real, and how much was fueled the cozy dimensions at Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium? His lost more than 300 points of slugging percentage on the road. Because of his power and his massive frame, Cozens' speed can be overlooked. He swiped 21 bases in 22 tries this season and showed a tick above-average speed. His defense in right field is just average, and he's worked to improve accuracy on his throws.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #9 prospect in 2013
  The hulking Cozens turned down a chance to play defensive end (and baseball) at Arizona in order to sign with the Phillies as a second-round pick last year. He finished fifth in the NY-P in slugging (.469) and home runs (nine) as a 19-year-old this summer, showing the ability to translate his massive raw power potential into production. Cozens has a loose, quick swing with natural leverage and lift, giving him plus-plus raw power. He has a pull-oriented approach, and one opposing manager called him ?a bit of a one-trick pony?straight fastball hitter.? He?ll need to make adjustments against offspeed pitches, but his pretty swing and electric bat speed give him a chance to hit enough for his power to play. Cozens is a below-average runner but not a clogger. Scouts project him as a first baseman down the road, but he handled right field adequately this summer.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Cozens starred in both baseball and football in high school, so he entered pro ball a bit raw after the Phillies made him a second-round pick in 2012. The 6-foot-6 right fielder took giant strides at Double-A Reading in 2016, his fifth pro season, by improving his batting eye and more frequently getting to his monstrous raw power. Cozens led the minors with 40 home runs and 125 RBIs, though he hit just 11 of those bombs away from the cozy confines at Reading. Scouting Report: Cozens is a player of extremes. He is a huge, strong, long-armed hitter who generates at least 70 raw power grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, with outstanding leverage when he's in sync, on time and able to get his hands extended. Even when he doesn't square up the ball, it flies off his bat with power to all fields. Cozens' long, uphill swing path leaves him with holes pitchers can exploit. This is particularly true when he faces lefthanders. While contact is an issue, he does show solid plate patience to go with his power. He also moves surprisingly well for his size, with average speed that helped him steal 21 bases in 22 attempts. He has worked his way into a playable defender with an average arm who played all three outfield spots in 2016.
  
  The Future: Cozens has the power to mash in the middle of the lineup, but a long list of power-hitting prospects have been stymied by contact issues. Triple-A Lehigh Valley is next.