Zach Phillips

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #27 prospect in 2008
  The Rangers drafted Phillips out of Galt (Calif.) High in 2004 and signed him as a draft-and-follow in 2005. After getting off to a 1-0, 1.19 start in April during his full-season debut in 2006, Phillips struggled with his confidence for three months before getting back on track in August and carrying his progress over to instructional league. He went back to the Midwest League in 2007 and finished third in the league in ERA and second in strikeouts. Phillips is a quick-twitch athlete who got in trouble in the past when he rushed himself, but he made a lot of progress controlling his tempo and delivery in '07. His feel for pitching and command are his best assets, while his stuff is solid if not overwhelming. He works at 87-91 mph with his fringe-average fastball, and his second pitch is a solid-average changeup. He flashes a quick, downer curveball with tight rotation, but it can get slurvy at times. Phillips' upside is limited, but the Rangers feel confident that he will eventually be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. He'll advance to high Class A in 2008.