Phillippe Aumont

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #13 prospect in 2013
  Nearly three years after being acquired with outfielder Tyson Gillies and righthander J.C. Ramirez in the December 2009 deal that sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners, Aumont made his big league debut last August. The centerpiece of that deal, Aumont signed for $1.9 million as the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft. He took a long road to the majors, bouncing between the bullpen and rotation while struggling with command, consistency and composure. Aumont still has the size and stuff that get scouts excited, and some project him as a future closer. In the last two years he has embraced his role in the bullpen. He has the best two-pitch combination in the system, a heavy 93-97 mph fastball with sink and a high-breaking curveball. They both induce feeble swings and whiffs. Fastball command will be critical to his future success, and he doesn't have a track record of consistently throwing strikes. He also needs to stay on top of his curveball, which can get slurvy at times. Aumont should have an inside track for a spot in Philadephia's bullpen to open 2013.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #5 prospect in 2012
  The centerpiece of the December 2009 Cliff Lee trade that also brought Tyson Gillies and J.C. Ramirez from the Mariners, Aumont signed for $1.9 million as the 11th overall pick in 2007. The Phillies initially made him a starter in 2010 but he floundered in that role, especially with his mechanics. The extra innings did help him learn more about pitching, which showed when he progressed to Triple-A Lehigh Valley as a reliever in 2011. Aumont has the system's best two-pitch combination, with both his fastball and curveball grading as plus-plus pitches. His heavy fastball sits at 93-96 mph and touches 98 with great sink, while his knee-buckling 78-80 mph curveball has sharp, late break. He also throws an 84-87 mph changeup that looks like a splitter, though he doesn't use it much in relief. While he can be overpowering at times, Aumont has a herky-jerky delivery that results in wavering command. There are some concerns about his attitude and competitiveness. If Aumont can do a better job of locating his pitches and controlling his emotions, he has the stuff to become a closer. Philadelphia protected him on its 40-man roster this offseason and will give him an outside shot to make the big league team in spring training. He'll likely open 2012 in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #14 prospect in 2011
  The 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft by the Mariners, Aumont signed for $1.9 million. Philadelphia liked what it saw from him in the Arizona Fall League after the 2009 season and made him the centerpiece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle that December. The Phillies also acquired outfielder Tyson Gillies and righthander J.C. Ramirez in the deal, and none of their three pickups dazzled in their first season with their new organization. Aumont had spent 2009 as a reliever and had pitched just 18 innings in Double-A, but Philadelphia sent him back to that level as a starter. That combination didn't work out well, and Aumont was demoted and returned to the bullpen in June. The Phillies are now committed to keeping him as a reliever. Aumont's go-to pitch is his heavy sinker that sits at 90-94 mph, and he should get to the big leagues on that alone. His four-seam fastball has been clocked up to 97 mph. His curveball has sharp, biting break and is a plus pitch at times, though it's inconsistent. He also throws a below-average changeup, but he won't need it much while working out of the bullpen. Aumont has a methodical delivery that's stiff and uncoordinated, and it causes him to struggle with his command. He'll go back to Reading in 2011 as a reliever, and he could move quickly if he does a better job of locating his pitches. He has closer potential if everything comes together.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #4 prospect in 2010
  The Mariners greeted Aumont with a surprise in spring training, telling the towering righthander that he'd continue his career in relief. They reasoned that the move not only would accelerate his timetable, but also would help him stay healthy after elbow soreness limited him to 56 innings in 2008. The recipient of a $1.9 million bonus as the 11th overall pick in 2007, he converted 12 of 14 save opportunities at high Class A High Desert before running into resistance in Double-A. Aumont wowed observers of the World Baseball Classic with his arm strength, imposing physique and tenacity as he guided Canada out of a none-out, bases-loaded jam against Team USA. His heavy sinker ranges from 92-95 mph with plus-plus life down in the zone. He dials his four-seamer up to 98 mph and savors challenging batters. His mid-70s curveball features occasional plus 12-to-6 break, especially when he repeats his high three-quarters arm slot and gets extension on the front side of his delivery. Aumont's high adrenaline levels can work against him at times. He missed the final three weeks of the season after breaking his non-pitching hand when he punched his locker. The biggest thing holding him back is an overall lack of command. His changeup is too firm, though it has some splitter action. If everything falls into place, Aumont has closer potential. He didn't exactly allay concerns by walking eight batters and allowing 18 runs in 12 Arizona Fall League innings. He'll get another crack at Double-A in 2010.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #3 prospect in 2009
  Aumont's Quebec high school didn't offer baseball, but he impressed scouts so much while pitching for travel teams that the Mariners selected him 11th overall in 2007 and signed him for $1.9 million. He signed late and made his pro debut in 2008, pitching just 56 innings as Seattle took a cautious approach when he developed a sore elbow. Aumont cuts an imposing figure on the mound, and his stuff is just as intimidating. He already throws 90-95 mph with plus-plus sink and boring action, and he may be able to throw even harder as he matures physically. If batters sit on his sinker, he can blow a high-90s four-seam fastball by them. Aumont's crossfire delivery and low three-quarters arm slot can make it tough for batters to pick up his pitches. His low-80s breaking ball has plus potential. For such a high pick, Aumont is quite unpolished, and now he has to prove he can stay healthy. His arm angle makes it hard to stay on top of his breaking ball, and he has a long way to go with a true changeup after using a splitter as an amateur. If he came up with a more balanced delivery, his secondary pitches and his command would benefit. Aumont's physical presence and the natural movement on his pitches suggest that he can fill a role at the front of a rotation. He'll pitch at high Class A High Desert at some point in 2009.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #2 prospect in 2008
  The best Canadian prospect since Adam Loewen, Aumont caught the attention of scouting directors while pitching for traveling teams, primarily the Canadian national team, because his Quebec high school didn't offer baseball. He gained prominence in 2006 at a high school all-star game in Cape Cod and at the East Coast Showcase, after which he was viewed as a potential first-round pick. The Mariners made him the 11th overall choice in June and signed him for $1.9 million. Aumont, who is reluctant to discuss his parents or his past with the media, has lived with legal guardians since 2003. Because Aumont signed too late to pitch, the Mariners put him on a five-day rotation schedule in instructional league. He pitches at 92-94 mph with his plus-plus power sinker that bores in on righthanders and features the best movement in the system. He also throws a four-seam fastball that touches 98. The athletic 6-foot-7, 230-pounder carves an intimidating presence on the mound, and his low three-quarters arm slot gives batters an uncomfortable look. His hard slider has above-average potential at 80-82 mph. Though he offers plus arm strength, Aumont doesn't have the polish or experience of other first-round high school arms. In fact, he didn't start playing baseball until age 11 and didn't start pitching until 14. Though he throws a lot of strikes, he needs to fine-tune his command of the strike zone. Repeating his delivery and staying balanced would allow him to more consistently stay on top of his breaking ball. He doesn't have much of a changeup--he threw a splitter as an amateur--but he'll get plenty of practice seeing as Mariners farmhands are required to throw the pitch 10 percent of the time. Despite his inexperience, Aumont will move as quickly as his command allows. He profiles as a front-of-the-rotation starter because his ball is so lively and because he has such a knack for avoiding the barrel of the bat. He figures to begin his pro career with low Class A Wisconsin.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #5 prospect in 2009
  After a sore elbow limited Aumont to 56 innings as a starter in his 2008 pro debut, the Mariners decided to make him a reliever this spring. They believe the role will put less stress on his arm and allow him to reach the majors quicker. He converted 12 of 14 save opportunities for High Desert before earning a promotion to Double-A West Tenn in mid-June. The towering Aumont has a 95-96 mph fastball with life, especially down in the zone, to go along with a plus slider. He used a splitter as his third pitch as an amateur and now employs a rudimentary changeup, but that pitch is less important now that he's a reliever. His biggest need is to improve his fastball command.
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  Ranked Midwest League #8 prospect in 2008
  Wisconsin may have finished with the worst record in the Western Division (56-80), but no MWL team could match the Timber Rattlers' trio of teenage power arms: Aumont, Juan Carlos Ramirez and Michael Pineda. Aumont made the biggest splash despite being limited to 10 innings in the second half as a precaution after he came down with a sore elbow. Aumont already throws 90-95 mph, and the projection remaining in his 6-foot-7 frame leads scouts to believe he'll push his velocity into the upper 90s. The hard sink on his fastball and his crossfire delivery make it even tougher on hitters. He flashes a plus curveball, though his arm angle makes it tough to stay on top of the pitch consistently. His changeup lags behind his other two pitches, but his command is already solid, no small feat considering his youth, size and limited pitching background (his Quebec high school didn't have a baseball team). He also has a commanding mound presence.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 2010
• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 2009
• Ranked Baseball America's #83 prospect in 2008

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The centerpiece of the December 2009 Cliff Lee trade that also brought Tyson Gillies and J.C. Ramirez from the Mariners, Aumont signed for $1.9 million as the 11th overall pick in 2007. The Phillies initially made him a starter in 2010 but he floundered in that role, especially with his mechanics. The extra innings did help him learn more about pitching, which showed when he progressed to Triple-A Lehigh Valley as a reliever in 2011. Scouting Report: Aumont has the system's best two-pitch combination, with his fastball and curveball grading as plus-plus pitches. His heavy fastball sits at 93-96 mph and touches 98 with great sink, while his knee-buckling curveball has sharp, late break. He also throws a changeup that looks like a splitter, though he doesn't use it much in relief. While he can be overpowering at times, Aumont has a herky-jerky delivery that results in wavering command. There are some concerns about his attitude and competitiveness. The Future: If Aumont can do a better job of locating his pitches and controlling his emotions, he could become a closer. He'll likely open 2012 in Triple-A, with an outside shot of making the big league team in spring training.