Deivy Grullon
| AB | 5 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .4 |
| OBP | .4 |
| SLG | .6 |
| HR | 0 |
- Full name Deivy Wilfin Grullón
- Born 02/17/1996 in Bonao, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 09/22/2019
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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TRACK RECORD: When the Phillies looked to reinvigorate their international program, Gruillon was one of their first major signings. He moved slowly early in his career, but back-to-back 20 home run seasons led to his MLB debut as a September callup in 2019.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gruillon has turned out to be a catcher with more offensive upside than most thanks to his above-average power. His swing isn't geared to hitting for average, as there is some length, but the power fits a backup catcher profile. He works well with pitchers and he has a plus arm. His thick trunk does limit his agility as a catcher. He sets up with one knee on the ground with no baserunners on to help him better present low pitches, but with runners on he struggles to get low in his setup. His hands are adequate, but he will get caught struggling to stab instead of block pitches that miss the strike zone badly.
THE FUTURE: As long as J.T. Realmuto is a Phillie, the club's backup catcher is a limited role. In 2019, Andrew Knapp started 30 games and got 160 plate appearances. Gruillon has a shot to fill that role while providing more value than Knapp as a pinch-hitter who can run into a home run every now and then. -
Track Record: When the Phillies signed Grullon for $575,000 as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2012, it was the largest signing bonus they gave to an international player that year.
Scouting Report: A few years into his pro career, Grullon struggled offensively, but his raw power started to translate in games in 2018. Playing in the hitter-friendly environment of Reading helped boost Grullon’s numbers, but he has legitimate plus raw power and packs a lot of strength into his swing. Grullon doesn’t strike out excessively, but he is a free-swinger, expanding the zone and struggling with offspeed pitches.
The Future: While he has the power to hit 20-25 home runs over a full season, his approach limits his ability to get on base. Behind the plate, Grullon has a plus-plus arm, but his lack of athleticism and lateral agility hamper him. His game has similarities to former MLB journeyman catcher Miguel Olivo. -
Grullon, who signed for $575,000 in 2012, has obvious strengths and also obvious weaknesses. His body has gone south in a major way, for he has added more than 40 pounds since signing as a 16-year-old. Grullon did not hit particularly well at low Class A Lakewood in 2015, batting .221 with a poor strikeoutto- walk ratio--though he did slam 28 extra-base hits, including eight home runs, in 107 games while playing half the time in an extreme pitcher's park. In addition to his above-average raw power, Grullon's double-plus throwing arm helps him produce consistent pop times of 1.9 seconds on throws to second base. He has room to improve his agility and footwork and make even stronger, more accurate throws. A return to Lakewood seems probable, with a chance to reach high Class A Clearwater if he plays well. If everything breaks right for Grullon, he could be a strong-armed backup catcher with a sprinkle of pop. -
One of best catching prospects on the international market in 2012, Grullon signed that July for $575,000, and the Phillies have reaped the benefits ever since. He spent the 2013 season in the Rookielevel Gulf Coast League before being jumped first to low Class A Lakewood, then to high Class A Clearwater for a brief cameo in 2014. Grullon draws raves mostly for his arm, which rates as a borderline double-plus tool. While his receiving and blocking have improved, he still has a ways to go in those departments, such as when he spread his legs noticeably wider in 2014 when calling for something other than a fastball. He also has been routinely praised for his leadership skills behind the plate, as well as his willingness to take initiative when it comes to improving his English and establishing a better rapport with his pitchers. While Grullon hit just .227 in 2014, scouts see both hittability and power potential in his future if he tightens his approach, but they also noted that he didn't seem to trust himself to hit the fastball at all times. Assuming the rest of the system's catchers remain healthy, Grullon should return to Lakewood in 2015 to continue to hone his skills and work toward his ceiling as a solid everyday catcher with strong defensive chops. -
Signed for $575,000, Grullon earned the top bonus handed out by the Phillies to an international amateur in 2012. The organization intends to invest more heavily in Latin America, and they believed the expenditure for Grullon was money well spent. He's the rare teen catcher whose defense appears to have the early lead on his offensive potential. He comes with a broad, durable body, and he has already proved himself adept at blocking balls. Grullon's lateral movement needs improvement at the moment, but not enough to be a worry. His arm rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scale right now, and he threw out 28 percent of basestealers in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2013. Grullon's offensive tools are understandably raw, but he made progress in the GCL. The length of his swing concerned scouts who believed it would cause him to swing-and-miss excessively, so his low strikeout rate in the GCL (about 13 percent of plate appearances) was a pleasant surprise. The Phillies project Grullon as a 10-15 homer threat eventually if he can get his average to the .250 range. He should start 2014 in extended spring training, where he'll work on adding strength in his lower half, and he likely will repeat the GCL.
Scouting Reports
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TRACK RECORD: When the Phillies looked to reinvigorate their international program, Gruillon was one of their first major signings. He moved slowly early in his career, but back-to-back 20 home run seasons led to his MLB debut as a September callup in 2019.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gruillon has turned out to be a catcher with more offensive upside than most thanks to his above-average power. His swing isn’t geared to hitting for average, as there is some length, but the power fits a backup catcher profile. He works well with pitchers and he has a plus arm. His thick trunk does limit his agility as a catcher. He sets up with one knee on the ground with no baserunners on to help him better present low pitches, but with runners on he struggles to get low in his setup. His hands are adequate, but he will get caught struggling to stab instead of block pitches that miss the strike zone badly.
THE FUTURE: As long as J.T. Realmuto is a Phillie, the club’s backup catcher is a limited role. In 2019, Andrew Knapp started 30 games and got 160 plate appearances. Gruillon has a shot to fill that role while providing more value than Knapp as a pinch-hitter who can run into a home run every now and then. -
TRACK RECORD: When the Phillies looked to reinvigorate their international program, Gruillon was one of their first major signings. He moved slowly early in his career, but back-to-back 20 home run seasons led to his MLB debut as a September callup in 2019.
SCOUTING REPORT: Gruillon has turned out to be a catcher with more offensive upside than most thanks to his above-average power. His swing isn't geared to hitting for average, as there is some length, but the power fits a backup catcher profile. He works well with pitchers and he has a plus arm. His thick trunk does limit his agility as a catcher. He sets up with one knee on the ground with no baserunners on to help him better present low pitches, but with runners on he struggles to get low in his setup. His hands are adequate, but he will get caught struggling to stab instead of block pitches that miss the strike zone badly.
THE FUTURE: As long as J.T. Realmuto is a Phillie, the club's backup catcher is a limited role. In 2019, Andrew Knapp started 30 games and got 160 plate appearances. Gruillon has a shot to fill that role while providing more value than Knapp as a pinch-hitter who can run into a home run every now and then.
