Phillies prospects Singleton, Savery make significant moves

SAN FRANCISCO – The two biggest Phillies-related story lines to come out of the recently completed Florida Instructional League: Hot prospect Jonathan Singleton's move from first base to leftfield and former first-round draft pick Joe Savery's move from pitcher to first.

Singleton is making the transition to outfield partly because he is blocked at first base with Ryan Howard manning that position in the majors for years to come. Singleton, a lefthanded bat, exploded onto the radar this season as an 18-year-old at Class A Lakewood, where he hit .290 with an .872 OPS, 14 home runs and 77 RBI in 104 games. The Phillies believe that Singleton, who probably still is several years away from the majors, can run well enough to make the transition to outfield.

Savery, meanwhile, likely will open up next season at first base after failing to establish himself as the type of pitching prospect the Phillies envisioned when they drafted him in the first round out of Rice in 2007. Savery went 1-12 with a 4.66 ERA at Triple A Lehigh Valley but spent some time as designated hitter, hitting .348 with a homer, three doubles and 10 strikeouts in 46 at-bats.

Rising relief prospect Justin DeFratus will join the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League now that USA Baseball's participation in the Pan-Am Qualifying Tournament is over.

DeFratus, who posted a 2.19 ERA and struck out 28 while walking five in 24 innings at Double A Reading this season (he also posted a 1.79 ERA and 43 strikeouts against 11 walks in 40 innings at Class A Clearwater), will likely get an invitation to big-league spring training for 2011. He appeared in five games for Team USA, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned), while walking none and striking out three in 4 2/3 innings. Team USA was knocked out in the semifinals by Dominican Republic.

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