FSL1 Clearwater Threshers

Threshers Spotlight: Carlos Tocci

Published on May 10, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release


Carlos Tocci is used to being the youngest guy on the team.

"I feel young but don't worry about that," Tocci says. "I feel the same, I feel comfortable."

A prodigy out of Maracay, Venezuela, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Tocci on August 23, 2011 - the day he turned 16 years old.

After debuting with 38 games in the Gulf Coast League in 2012, Tocci was bounced all the way up to Low-A Lakewood to begin the 2013 season.

For a 17-year-old, playing in the South Atlantic League is nearly unheard of.

Consider this - through the first week of May this season, the youngest player on any SAL roster was Greenville's Anderson Espinoza, who turned 18 on March 9. Conelius Randolph is the youngest player on the Lakewood Blue Claws, as the Phillies' first round draft pick from 2015 turns 19 on June 2.

Understandably, Tocci got off to a slow start in his first two years with the Blue Claws, batting .209 in 2013 and .242 a year later.

The Phillies did not waiver in their decision to test the young outfielder with more advanced competition, knowing he had the maturity to deal with adversity.

"We thought he could handle it mentally if he struggled with the bat - because that was going to be the only issue, we all knew he could play defense," says Threshers manager Greg Legg, who had Tocci in Lakewood while he served as hitting coach in 2013, then as manager in 2014.

"We all thought that he was strong enough mentally that if he hit .210, .220, .230, that it wouldn't phase him, " Legg says, "And that's exactly what happened."

While the Phillies have waited patiently for Tocci - who was just 160 pounds upon signing - to add strength, his defense has remained unquestioned.

"Defensively, and the maturity of where to throw the ball - that particular year (2013) I never saw him throw to the wrong base, not one time," Legg says.

"His instincts for that kind of thing made it easy for them to decide to say, 'Hey, you go play under the lights, we're gonna get you out of here," Legg says of the Phillies decision to send Tocci up to Low-A.

"You could see in spring training, you could see it every time you watched him," Legg says. "That usually is the thing. Can you handle the adversity that the game's gonna give you? It's gonna give it to you, and if you're 17 and you're playing in a level like in the sally (South Atlantic) league, you're probably going to have some, and he was able to handle it."

Highly touted since signing, Tocci has appeared on Baseball America's top prospects list for the Philadelphia Phillies every year since then, debuting at No. 13 in 2012. He enters this year ranked No. 10.

Scouts and coaches have consistently praised Tocci's tools, including his ability to make quick adjustments and use the whole field.

The question has always been whether Tocci will be physically strong enough to hit at the big league level.

The process is not quite as simple as constantly lifting weights and adding muscle. The Phillies must also keep in mind his agility, keeping Tocci limber enough to utilize his speed as a weapon.

Increasing his running game is something the Threshers are trying to encourage from Tocci this year.

"Greg Legg gives me the green light, so I feel more aggressive on the bases," Tocci says. "I think I can steal more bases this year."

Tocci swiped 17 bases between Low and High-A last year, and has stolen four bags in 28 games to start this season.

Meanwhile, an increase in power numbers has slowly started to show in the stats over the last couple seasons.

Tocci hit four home runs last year between Lakewood and Clearwater, and combined for a career-high 29 extra-base hits.

"Last year was good," Tocci says, "I can hit more doubles, more triples, more homers, finally."

"His overall strength, that's what we're waiting on," Legg says.

"We're just waiting for him to get stronger. When he gets strong enough, he's gonna probably fly through the system. I mean, that's kind of all it is.

"Waiting for him to become a young man - which he's starting to become. He was a young kid the last couple years."

At just 20 years old, Tocci still has plenty of time to mature into a big-league talent.

This past April, he had the chance to get a taste of what that future may hold.

Tocci was one of 25 players to be selected to participate in the Phillies Futures Series, where a squad of prospects played a pair of games against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 31 in Reading and at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on April 2.

"It's amazing, you know," Tocci says of the experience. "We talked with Freddy Galvis, Andres Blanco, Cesar (Hernandez). It's amazing being in Citizens Bank Park, talking with the fans, seeing the stadium.

"Everything was Major League."

As the youngster continues to mature physically, that big league treatment may not be far off.

"His work ethic, his durability - he's been very durable - are all pluses," Legg says.

"If we can get him stronger, I think you're gonna definitely see a big league player."

Check out the Clearwater Threshers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Florida State League Stories from May 10, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central