After Ruiz trade, Phillies to call up top catching prospect Alfaro

By Ted Fleming | Aug 26, 2016

Mar 7, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (68) bats during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. The Phillies won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia Phillies received A.J. Ellis from the Dodgers, but the backstop hasn’t arrived yet so the call-up for Jorge Alfaro could be a short stay for the 23-year old.

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to bring up catching prospect Jorge Alfaro from their Double-A Reading affiliate to fill the roster spot left open by the trade of Carlos Ruiz to the Dodgers, according to a report at delewareonline.com. It could be a short stay though because A.J. Ellis has not reported to the team yet.

GM Matt Klentak expects Ellis to be in uniform sometime this weekend.

Source: Jorge Alfaro is coming up for Phillies. One of key players in Cole Hamels trade return, Alfaro is a rocket-armed, big-power catcher.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 26, 2016

“There is a reasonably good chance one of our young catching prospects will be in the big leagues before the season is over,” Klentak said Thursday night before the news of Alfaro’s promotion was reported. “Both our Double-A and Triple-A teams are in pennant races and we believe it’s important for them to continue to get meaningful at-bats and play in meaningful games.”

Alfaro, 23, is the Red Quakers No. 4 prospect and No 64 overall in the MLB Pipeline. In 90 games with the Fightin Phils, he is hitting .279/.321/.442 with 18 doubles, 13 homers and 61 RBI in 373 at-bats. Acquired as part of the trade that sent pitcher Cole Hamels to the Rangers last July, he is considered to have a power arm throwing out 31 attempted base stealers for a career best 44-percent.

Next: Dodgers acquire catcher Carlos Ruiz from Phillies

Cameron Rupp is the only catcher on the Philadelphia roster with Emmanuel Burriss as an emergency replacement so the need to call someone up to replace Ruiz is desperate.

Even though Alfaro will spend just a few days in the majors before being returned to the minors, it will prepare him for being called up again when the rosters expand on Sept. 1 where he is expected to see some regular action in the final month.

With the trade of Ruiz, only Ryan Howard is left from the Phils last championship season in 2008.

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