Philadelphia Phillies: Is It Time To Give Up On Zach Eflin?
With Zach Eflin being optioned to Triple-A team Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, let us review his time with the Phillies.
The Zach Eflin we saw this year for the Philadelphia Phillies was… concerning, to say the least. Things looked good during the month of April for the young prospect. He posted a 0-0 record to go along with a 1.89 ERA allowing 10 hits, three walks, and 11 strikeouts coming through 19 innings pitched.
In his first game after the call-up, April 18th, he went against the rival Mets. He went five innings allowing three hits and one earned run. He struck out four and finished the game with a 1.80 ERA. Next, he battled the Braves on April 23rd and put out a better effort than his first go around. He pitched seven innings, giving up three hits and one earned run. He followed up with three strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.
Finally, to cap off April, Elfin faced the Dodgers. He gave a quality start by going seven innings, but he also allowed one more hit (4), and one more earned run (2). He matched his strikeout total of four against the Mets but gave up his worst ERA of the month by posting a 1.89.
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What came next was the scary part for the 23-year-old righty. This month, Eflin went 0-3. On one hand, that isn’t all that worrisome as teams and players go through stretches of being hot and cold throughout an 182 game season. His statistics are terrifying.
In five games Elfin posted a 9.00 ERA, giving up 48 hits, and 28 runs to go along with six walks and fourteen strikeouts through the month of May. One positive to come away from his horrible month was his performance against the Chicago Cubs. Eflin got through seven innings giving up nine hits, three earned runs, and one strikeout.
Against Seattle, he went six innings giving up a whopping nine hits and three runs, but only one earned run. He did strike out a season high-five strikeouts. He did post a 2.81 ERA.
His next opponent was the Rangers on May 17th. He only went an abysmal four innings giving up eleven hits and seven earned runs while allowing a 4.25 ERA.
He then went up against the Rockies on May 23rd. He lasted a bit longer going for six innings, but allowed ten hits, eight earned runs and struck out four.
His final start came against the Reds on the 28th. I believe we all remember how that game went. Now, most people will be screaming “Give up on Eflin, NOW!” That is totally acceptable. I respect that. Before you completely write-off Eflin hear me out.
There was once a time when he was a respected prospect. Zach Eflin was drafted 33rd overall in the first round of the 2014 draft by the San Diego Padres. He was then flipped to the Phillies in the three team trade consisting of the Dodgers and Padres headlined by Matt Kemp and Jimmy Rollins.
What hampered Eflin’s growth as he progressed through the farm systems was surgery to his right patellar tendon. He has told Phillies’ GM Pete Mackanin that this has been a lingering injury since the age of 10. Since he was a little kid he has pitched with that nagging feeling in his right knee. He pitched his way into the first round. Now imagine what he could do with no throbbing.
As a pitcher, a knee injury is devastating to recover from. It may just be the second hardest injury to recover from following Tommy John. The motion, the feeling, it all changes. He now starts the road to rediscovering his pitching stance and tendencies.
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This season is a season of change for Eflin. Give him time to modify his stance and feel the game pain-free before you write him off.